Got a stack of handwritten scoresheets you'll never replay? ScanChess turns a single photo into a clean, ready-to-use PGN file. Our AI OCR reads handwritten algebraic notation, converts it to standard SAN moves, validates that each move is legal, and hands you a downloadable PGN — no manual retyping, no squinting at smudged ink.
How it works
- Photograph your scoresheet. Use your phone to snap a clear shot of the handwritten moves. Good lighting and a flat angle help, but ScanChess is built to handle real-world handwriting.
- Upload it to ScanChess. Drop the photo into the scanner on the web app or in our WeChat mini-program. The AI reads your notation and reconstructs the game move by move.
- Review the moves and download your PGN. Step through the recognized game on the interactive board, fix anything flagged as uncertain, and export a standard PGN file in one click.
Why use ScanChess
- Saves hours of retyping. What used to be a tedious move-by-move transcription becomes a quick photo and a final review.
- Catches illegal and ambiguous moves. Built-in legality checking flags moves that can't be played or that are unclear, so errors surface before they reach your database.
- Reads real handwriting. The OCR is trained on handwritten scoresheets, not just printed text, and marks low-confidence moves for you to confirm.
- Exports standard PGN. Your file imports cleanly into Lichess, Chess.com, ChessBase, and SCID — ready for analysis, study, or sharing.
- Recognizes board photos too. Snap a position and ScanChess converts it to FEN, so you can capture a game state as easily as a full scoresheet.
Because every move runs through legality validation, you're not just digitizing notation — you're getting a verified game you can trust. And with interactive replay, you can walk through the whole game on a live board before you ever hit download.
New here? You get free credits to start, so you can convert your first scoresheets and see the results before spending anything. Each scan uses credits, and your finished PGN is yours to keep.
Want a closer look at the process? Read How to convert a handwritten scoresheet to PGN for a full walkthrough, or brush up on the format itself with What is PGN?.
Turn that scoresheet into a game
Stop letting good games sit in a drawer. Photograph your scoresheet, let ScanChess do the reading, review the moves, and download a PGN you can study and share today.