Explore mode is a free-form analysis board — move either side yourself, starting from the normal opening position, and Stockfish 18 evaluates the position and suggests the best move after every move you make. No game import needed; it’s the same live engine hookup as the Analyze page, just driven by you instead of a finished game. It also detects and names the opening as you move through it, using the same opening database the Analyze page draws on, so you can test a line and immediately see both the engine’s opinion and what the opening is actually called.
Analyze reviews a finished game you’ve imported. Explore mode has no game at all — you play both sides yourself from the starting position and get instant feedback on every move, useful for testing ideas or studying a specific opening line.
Not yet — Explore mode currently starts from the standard opening position each time you reset.
Testing an opening idea before playing it in a real game, checking whether a tactic you spotted actually works, or just seeing the engine’s live opinion as a position develops move by move.