What is the difference between PGN and FEN?

PGN is the whole game: the players, the moves and the result. FEN is one position: where the pieces stand, whose turn it is, the castling rights, the en passant square and the two move counters. This page walks a PGN and writes the FEN after each ply.

Which position does the FEN describe?

The FEN is the position after the move you select. The first row, before any move, is the opening array, or the position in the PGN's FEN header if it has one.

What happens if a move is illegal?

Replay stops at that move. The FENs before it stay. Open the same game in the PGN validator to see the moves that were legal there.

Can I convert a game from a chess book?

Yes, a game you type out from a book you own, for your own study. This page does not host book text and it does not download books.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. The PGN field, the board and the move list stack on a narrow screen, and each row is a tap target.

PGN to FEN Converter

Free tool · No account needed

Paste a PGN, pick a move, copy the FEN. Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

Is the game on a paper scoresheet? Scan it into PGN instead of typing it.

Scan an image Try the free example

Paste a game and this page replays it in your browser, one ply at a time. Pick any move and copy the FEN of the position after it, or copy a FEN for every ply in one list. Use it to check a game you typed from a book you own, to lift the position before a combination, or to hand a diagram tool the FEN it expects. It only replays the moves you already have. It does not suggest a move in a game you are playing.

What this tool does

A FEN for every ply

The list runs from the position before the first move through the position after the last legal one. Pick a row, or copy the whole list.

Stops at the first illegal move

A typo ends the replay there and names the move. Every FEN before it is still valid, and the PGN validator lists the legal moves at that point.

Several games in one file

Paste a file of games and choose which one to convert. A PGN that already has a FEN header starts from that position, not from the opening array.

Converted on your device

The replay happens in the page. The PGN is not uploaded, and you do not need an account.

How to turn a PGN into FEN

1
Paste a PGN or a plain move list, drop a .pgn file, or load the example.
2
Pick a move in the list. The board shows the position after that move, and the FEN sits under the board.
3
Copy that FEN, or copy and download the FEN of every ply.
4
Have a diagram instead of a game? Scan the board image to a FEN, then open FEN to PGN if you want a file that starts there.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between PGN and FEN?: PGN is the whole game: the players, the moves and the result. FEN is one position: where the pieces stand, whose turn it is, the castling rights, the en passant square and the two move counters. This page walks a PGN and writes the FEN after each ply.
Which position does the FEN describe?: The FEN is the position after the move you select. The first row, before any move, is the opening array, or the position in the PGN's FEN header if it has one.
What happens if a move is illegal?: Replay stops at that move. The FENs before it stay. Open the same game in the PGN validator to see the moves that were legal there.
Can I convert a game from a chess book?: Yes, a game you type out from a book you own, for your own study. This page does not host book text and it does not download books.
Does it work on a phone?: Yes. The PGN field, the board and the move list stack on a narrow screen, and each row is a tap target.

The position is a diagram in a book you own

Photograph the diagram and ScanChess reads it into a FEN you can correct. One board image costs one credit.

Scan a board image

Guides for this tool

More free tools

All tools