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K-MAPS analysis

https://siderite.dev/blog/lichess-tools---user-manual#showKmaps

How to visualize K-MAPS analysis

ChessAnalysisSoftware DevelopmentLichess
... a LiChess Tools use case miniature

Recently I've implemented something I've heard about in an Anna Cramling video: K-MAPS analysis. The idea is that you want to understand the position from five principles of chess:

  • King safety (K)
  • Material (M)
  • piece Activity (A)
  • Pawn structure (P)
  • Space advantage (S)

In LiChess Tools all you have to do is enable the feature:
image.png
and then, in analysis scenarios, like Analysis Board, Studies, game analysis or even watching TV or broadcasts, you get a "K-MAPS" text where each letter changes color and shade from green (good) to neutral (white) to red (bad).
image.png
All values are relative (so a red King safety can be because the opponent has a much better one) and normalized in an interval of -100 to 100.

Technically, each value is calculated as follows:
K - pawnshield * 2 - openFilesNextToKing * 1.5 - enemyThreatsNextToKing - holesNextToKing
M - sum of pawn and piece values
A - mobility * 0.1 + openFilesWithRookOrQueen * 0.3 + centralControl * 0.5
P - - doubledPawns * 0.5 - isolatedPawns * 0.5 + (passedPawnsBasedOnRank) * 0.2 - (islands-1) * 0.5 - backwardPawns * 0.3
S - controlledSquaresInEnemySide * 0.1 + bonusForCentralSquares

The idea here is that you can see immediately where you can improve or what to take advantage of. The formulas are still under refinement, but the feature works right now.

Hope it helps!