Sometimes, a single pawn push can change everything – just like one breakthrough can redefine an entire field. As a grandmaster, I’ve often marvelled at how a simple move like e4 can open vast possibilities on the board. Yet these days, the real marvel might not come from a grandmaster’s creativity but from a machine’s self-taught brilliance. Allow me to take you on a journey that bridges deep learning, chess education, and the human mind – all viewed through the lens of my experience as an international chess coach and competitor.

It wasn’t too long ago that traditional “Alpha-Beta” chess engines – brute-forcing millions of positions per second – dominated our game. And dominate they did, defeating elite human players in match after match. However, the arrival of AlphaZero and its open-source cousin, Leela Chess Zero, reshaped the landscape. These new-generation engines weren’t just calculating – they were learning, teaching themselves from scratch by playing billions of games against themselves.

Leela Chess Zero (often called “Lc0” or “Leela”) started with nothing more than the basic rules of chess. No built-in strategy, no pre-programmed opening traps – just the fundamental movements of the pieces. Through “reinforcement learning,” Leela played itself over and over again, steadily building an understanding of positions, tactics, and strategies. Despite evaluating fewer positions per second than Stockfish and other classical engines, Leela competes at the highest level. In many ways, it is similar to a novice at a chess club who – without direct coaching – steadily refines their skills by continuous practice and self-critique, ultimately reaching grandmaster strength.

In my own coaching experience, I emphasize that true learning often comes from making mistakes and then analyzing them thoroughly. Curiously, that’s exactly how Leela evolves. It “loses” millions of self-play games, “notices” why those games were lost, and adjusts its strategy accordingly. What does that teach us about making mistakes and improving our own skills?

1. Learning by Doing: Rather than rely on memorization or rigid formulas, students (like Leela) develop deeper understanding by experimenting, seeing the results quickly, and iterating. This active engagement converts short-term setbacks into long-term gains. This principle can be transformative in classrooms. Imagine math students working through problems in an iterative manner – making an attempt, quickly seeing the result, then adjusting. Just like Leela’s neural network, students build deeper, more intuitive knowledge through a cycle of active engagement rather than rote memorization.
2. Creativity Sparked by Constraints: Leela doesn’t rely on brute force; it looks for moves that “feel” positionally promising, even if they defy conventional logic. Students, too, can discover inventive solutions when working within fixed rules – just as a chessboard’s constraints can spark truly original, innovative thinking.
3. Patience and Resilience: A crucial lesson in chess instilled in young minds is resilience under pressure. As I always tell my students: no single mistake should break your spirit. Leela “dies” in millions of self-play games but “rebirths” with sharper insights. Similarly, students learn that every lost piece on the board (or every incorrect test answer in a school exam) can be a stepping stone to improvement.

You might be wondering, “Why should a business leader care about a chess engine?” The truth is, strategic thinking in any enterprise often mirrors the art of chess. Unpredictable market shifts can appear out of nowhere – just like a sudden bishop sacrifice. Effective leaders must calculate, adapt, and plan multiple moves ahead.

Long-Term Vision – Leela’s patient, intuitive approach to position-building offers a useful model for organizations investing in future returns. Sometimes short-term profit must be sacrificed for a more robust, sustainable advantage, a winning position down the line.

Self-Learning Culture – Much like Leela’s iterative approach, forward-thinking companies encourage fast feedback loops. Small, reversible mistakes are mined for insights that prevent bigger setbacks later on.

How to Apply Leela’s Lessons

Think of Leela’s learning method as a practical set of guidelines for both personal development and organizational strategy. When you see how Leela tackles chess problems, you can draw parallels to solving complex business issues, navigating career growth, or even managing day-to-day projects. By integrating Leela’s mindset into your own routines, you’ll likely spot opportunities you never considered before – and you’ll learn faster from the inevitable setbacks along the way.

• Embrace Self-Directed Growth: Just as Leela continually adjusts after each lost position, recognize that each setback in business or personal life is an opportunity to refine your approach. Rather than avoiding errors, treat them as essential feedback loops. Reflect on what went wrong, identify root causes, and apply those insights immediately. By doing so, you build a culture – within yourself or your team – of proactive learning. No coach or supervisor can replicate the power of intrinsic motivation: when individuals feel empowered to investigate and correct their own mistakes, true innovation thrives.
• Seek Creativity Within Constraints: A knight in chess is limited to moving in an ‘L’ shape, yet this apparent restriction can produce some of the most surprising tactics. Similarly, in real-world scenarios – from budget limitations to tight deadlines – the very constraints that seem confining can spark original solutions. If you find yourself hitting a wall, try to reframe it as a puzzle: How can you turn a limitation into an advantage? By looking beyond the obvious and embracing unconventional approaches, you’ll discover that constraints often fuel the best innovations – whether it’s a new product idea, a streamlined process, or a breakthrough strategy.
• Collaborate and Share Knowledge: Leela’s open-source nature means thousands of contributors around the world are collectively pushing its capabilities. This spirit of shared effort proves that when people pool their diverse talents, progress accelerates exponentially. In the workplace or in personal projects, encourage open dialogue, peer review, and cross-functional teamwork. Provide platforms for brainstorming and constructive criticism – much like Leela’s global network of volunteers does. By doing so, you’re not just solving immediate problems more effectively; you’re also cultivating an environment where collective brilliance thrives and individual skill sets grow stronger.

Ultimately, studying Leela Chess Zero is about more than just admiring an AI marvel. It’s about adopting a mindset of continuous improvement, fearless experimentation, and learning from each and every stumble. Because as in chess, so too in life – the moves you make today can transform your entire future tomorrow.

Written by Krisztian Szabo, International Chess Grandmaster
(Dedicated to all who find beauty in the interplay of logic, creativity, and never-ending discovery.)