Is the analysis board free?

Yes, with no account and no daily limit. The engine runs on your own device, so there is nothing to meter. The optional AI explanation of a position needs a free account with a verified email: one a day is free, then 1 credit.

How is this different from the Lichess analysis board?

Lichess's board is free too, and better for opening study with its explorer and cloud evaluations. This one is lighter: the engine runs on your device, so the moves you play stay in your browser unless you ask for an explanation or save the position; it links straight to the best move finder and the scanner, and a PGN with a typo still loads up to the mistake.

Does it keep variations?

No, it keeps one line. Playing a different move from an earlier position replaces the moves after it. To keep variations in a game, use the PGN viewer, which reads and writes them.

How strong is the engine?

Stockfish 18, the single-threaded WebAssembly build, searching each position up to depth 18 or four seconds. A desktop engine given minutes per move will see further in sharp positions.

Is my analysis saved?

Only if you choose to. Signed in, "Save to my positions" keeps the position in your account; otherwise copy the FEN or PGN, or share a link: /tools/analysis-board?fen= followed by the position opens it directly.

Chess Analysis Board

Free tool · No account needed

Move the pieces, and Stockfish 18 evaluates every position in your browser. The engine runs in your browser. Optional AI explanations and saving need a free account and send the position to our server.

Have a screenshot or photo of this position? Scan it and the board sets itself up.

Scan an image Try the free example

Play moves for both sides from the starting position, or paste a FEN or a PGN to start somewhere else. At your first move Stockfish 18 switches on in this tab and evaluates every position you reach, with its three best lines. Step back through the moves, try a different one, and the rest of the line is replaced. When you are done, copy the FEN or the PGN, or analyze the whole line for mistakes.

What this tool does

Play any line

Drag or tap pieces for either side. Go back to any move and play something else; the new move replaces what came after, the way you would on a real board.

An evaluation for every position

Stockfish 18 runs in your browser and follows the board: an evaluation bar, the best move as an arrow, and three lines you can step through.

Start from any FEN or PGN

Paste a position or a whole game. A PGN is played up to its last legal move, so one typo does not throw the game away.

Copy it back out

Copy the current FEN or the line as a PGN, open the position in the board editor, or send it to the best move finder.

How to use the analysis board

1
Move a piece. The engine loads at your first move, about seven megabytes, fetched once.
2
Read the evaluation and the three lines. Tap a line to play it out on the board.
3
Use the arrows or the move list to go back, then try another move.
4
Paste a FEN or PGN to start from a different position, and copy the FEN or PGN when you are done.

Frequently asked questions

Is the analysis board free?: Yes, with no account and no daily limit. The engine runs on your own device, so there is nothing to meter. The optional AI explanation of a position needs a free account with a verified email: one a day is free, then 1 credit.
How is this different from the Lichess analysis board?: Lichess's board is free too, and better for opening study with its explorer and cloud evaluations. This one is lighter: the engine runs on your device, so the moves you play stay in your browser unless you ask for an explanation or save the position; it links straight to the best move finder and the scanner, and a PGN with a typo still loads up to the mistake.
Does it keep variations?: No, it keeps one line. Playing a different move from an earlier position replaces the moves after it. To keep variations in a game, use the PGN viewer, which reads and writes them.
How strong is the engine?: Stockfish 18, the single-threaded WebAssembly build, searching each position up to depth 18 or four seconds. A desktop engine given minutes per move will see further in sharp positions.
Is my analysis saved?: Only if you choose to. Signed in, "Save to my positions" keeps the position in your account; otherwise copy the FEN or PGN, or share a link: /tools/analysis-board?fen= followed by the position opens it directly.

Start from a photo instead

Photograph a board or screenshot a diagram, and ScanChess sets the position up for you, ready to analyze.

Scan a board image

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