Chess Board Editor
Free tool · No account neededSet up any position, copy the FEN, export a PNG, or hand a screenshot to image-to-FEN scanning. Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Use this chess board editor like a lightweight alternative to a Lichess board editor: tap or drag pieces, paste a FEN, or drop a screenshot above the board to continue in image-to-FEN scanning. The FEN updates as you edit. When the position is playable, the panel shows whether the side to move is in check, checkmated, or stalemated. Copy the FEN, share a link, download a PNG, or open the position for analysis.
What this tool does
Live FEN
The FEN string updates with every change, and a paste box lets you load one to start from.
Position checks
Castling rights, side to move and en passant are set from the panel; the tool warns when a position is not playable.
Board to image
Download the diagram as a crisp PNG for a blog, worksheet or social post.
Touch friendly
Tap a piece in the tray, then tap squares to place it. Tap the eraser to clear squares.
How to use the board editor
- 1
Start from the initial position, an empty board, or paste a FEN.
- 2
Tap a piece in the tray, then tap a square to place it — or drag it across on a desktop. Tap the eraser, or drag a piece off the board, to remove it.
- 3
Choose the side to move and castling rights in the panel.
- 4
Copy the FEN, download the PNG, share the link or open the position for analysis.
Frequently asked questions
- What is FEN and how does this chess board editor use it?
- FEN (Forsyth–Edwards Notation) is a standard one-line description of a chess position. In this chess board editor, the FEN string updates live with every piece you move, and you can copy it or open it in analysis.
- Why does the tool say my position is not playable?
- A legal position needs exactly one king per side, no pawns on the first or eighth rank, and the side that is not to move must not be in check. You can still copy the FEN, but engines and analysis boards may reject it.
- Can I edit a board from a photo or screenshot?
- Yes — ScanChess includes an AI board recognizer that turns a photo or screenshot of a physical or digital chessboard into an editable position right inside this board editor.
- How do I tell if a FEN is checkmate?
- Paste the FEN into this chess board editor. When the position is playable, the status line under the board shows check, checkmate, or stalemate for the side to move. There is no checkmate field in FEN itself—the rules follow from the pieces and whose turn it is.
- How do I turn a FEN into an image?
- Paste the FEN into the editor and click Download PNG. The image is rendered locally at high resolution with coordinates. For more export options, open the same FEN in the FEN to Image tool.
- How is this different from the Lichess board editor?
- The Lichess editor is free and good. This one also tells you why a position cannot be played, such as a pawn on the back rank or both kings in check, exports the board as a PNG diagram, and can start from a screenshot instead of an empty board.
Snap a real board instead
ScanChess reads a photo of a physical chessboard and gives you the FEN, ready to edit here or analyze. Free credits on sign-up.
Guides for this tool
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