diff --git a/src/main/java/featurecat/lizzie/analysis/Leelaz.java b/src/main/java/featurecat/lizzie/analysis/Leelaz.java
index 2ae045e05..276b5ee4f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/featurecat/lizzie/analysis/Leelaz.java
+++ b/src/main/java/featurecat/lizzie/analysis/Leelaz.java
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ public class Leelaz {
   private boolean isPondering;
   private long startPonderTime;
 
+  // enable temporary detaching for efficiency
+  public boolean isAttached = true;
+
   // fixed_handicap
   public boolean isSettingHandicap = false;
 
@@ -601,6 +604,9 @@ public void endModifyingBoard() {
    * @param move coordinate of the coordinate
    */
   public void playMove(Stone color, String move) {
+    if (!isAttached) {
+      return;
+    }
     synchronized (this) {
       String colorString;
       switch (color) {
@@ -688,6 +694,9 @@ public void handicap(int num) {
   }
 
   public void undo() {
+    if (!isAttached) {
+      return;
+    }
     synchronized (this) {
       sendCommand("undo");
       bestMoves = new ArrayList<>();
diff --git a/src/main/java/featurecat/lizzie/rules/SGFParser.java b/src/main/java/featurecat/lizzie/rules/SGFParser.java
index f2e9cf733..28dc01aae 100644
--- a/src/main/java/featurecat/lizzie/rules/SGFParser.java
+++ b/src/main/java/featurecat/lizzie/rules/SGFParser.java
@@ -121,7 +121,10 @@ private static boolean parse(String value) {
       Lizzie.leelaz.supportScoremean = false;
     }
 
+    // Detach engine for avoiding useless "play" and "undo" (#752).
+    Lizzie.leelaz.isAttached = false;
     parseValue(value, null, false);
+    Lizzie.leelaz.isAttached = true;
 
     return true;
   }