Engine Configuration
Engine configuration is found at Settings → Engine. For first-time setup or switching engines, see Engine Setup.
Custom engine path
Section titled “Custom engine path”To use an engine other than the bundled Stockfish:
- Click Browse next to Custom Engine Path.
- Navigate to the engine binary and select it.
- Masterboard performs a UCI handshake to confirm the binary is a valid engine.
To revert to the auto-detected Stockfish, clear the custom path field.
Hash size
Section titled “Hash size”The hash (transposition table) is memory the engine reserves for caching positions it has already evaluated. Larger hash sizes allow deeper searches without redundant computation.
Recommended values:
| System RAM | Hash setting |
|---|---|
| 8 GB | 128–256 MB |
| 16 GB | 256–512 MB |
| 32 GB+ | 512–1024 MB |
Setting hash higher than about 75% of available RAM can cause swapping and slow the engine down. If you notice sluggishness, reduce this value.
Threads
Section titled “Threads”The number of CPU threads the engine uses for analysis. More threads = stronger analysis, but uses more CPU, which may impact app responsiveness and other tasks.
A practical setting: total logical cores minus one. For example, on an 8-core CPU with 16 logical processors, set threads to 15.
To find your logical core count:
- Windows: Task Manager → Performance → CPU → Logical processors
- macOS: Terminal:
sysctl -n hw.logicalcpu - Linux: Terminal:
nproc
MultiPV
Section titled “MultiPV”MultiPV controls how many candidate lines the engine shows simultaneously in the Engine panel. Range: 1–5.
- 1: maximum search depth — the engine focuses all resources on finding the single best move.
- 2–5: the engine evaluates the top N moves simultaneously. Search depth per line is lower, but you see more alternatives.
For casual analysis, 2–3 lines is a good balance. When studying a specific position deeply, set it to 1 for maximum depth.
When do changes take effect?
Section titled “When do changes take effect?”Hash and thread changes take effect the next time the engine starts a new search (i.e. when you navigate to a new position or start a new analysis). A restart is not required.