Get the Best Move From a Chess Photo
Take a photo of a physical board, a book, or a screen and find the best move.
No FEN. No board setup. No sign up.
Not everything is a screenshot. Point your camera at a real board, a diagram in a chess book, or a game on another screen, and ChessScreenshot reads the position and shows the best move.
Photos are harder than app screenshots, so this page is tuned to expect them — and the editor is always there to fix a stray piece.
Photograph the board, get the move
Tap Take Photo and capture the board straight on. ChessScreenshot finds the board, reconstructs the position, and shows the best move — the same result you would get from a screenshot.
It works for physical sets, book and magazine diagrams, and photos of another monitor or TV.
Tips for a photo that reads well
Shoot the board as square-on as you can, fill the frame with just the board, and avoid glare and hard shadows. Good, even light makes a big difference.
Angled photos, reflective pieces, and ornate 3D sets are the hardest cases. If the position comes through with a few wrong pieces, use Fix Position to correct them before analyzing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a photo instead of a screenshot?
Yes. Tap Take Photo to capture a physical board, a book diagram, or another screen, and the position is read from the photo.
Why are photos harder than screenshots?
Screenshots are perfectly flat, evenly lit, and high-contrast. Photos add angle, glare, and shadows, which make the board and pieces harder to read — so expect to fix a piece now and then.
How should I take the photo?
Straight on, filling the frame with the board, in even light, without glare on the pieces. That gives the cleanest read.
Do I have to enter a FEN or set up the board?
No. You upload the picture and the board is reconstructed for you. FEN is available afterwards if you want it, but you never have to type one.
Is it free?
Yes. The board is read and analyzed right in your browser, there is no sign up, and you can do it as many times as you like.
Is this allowed?
Use it for studying finished games, checking puzzles, and reviewing positions to learn. Every online chess site has fair-play rules that prohibit outside help during live rated games — please follow the rules of whatever platform you play on.