ChessWorld - Features FAQ's

You can use the Forum testing area to experiment with any of the posting techniques mentioned below.

This is not a private area and other Members may visit that Forum and will be able to observe your testing!

To represent a chess position in a forum post, simply enter:

position[first part of FEN string]

The first part of a FEN string represents the position of the pieces on the board. For example, if you have a White King on a8 and a Black King on h1, the board would be represented as:

K7/8/8/8/8/8/8/7k

This notation shows a White King followed by 7 empty squares on the top rank, and so on. Use uppercase for White pieces (KQBNRP) and lowercase for Black pieces (kqbnrp). The `/` character separates each rank.

Example 1: Starting position:
position[rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR]

Example 2: After 1.e4 c5 (Sicilian Defense):
position[rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/2p5/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR]

You can get FEN strings using the Analyse or Play through boards. If you want to set up your own position, use the Generic analysis board via Improve ... Coaching Resources.

For more help, see: Q. Is there a board where I can play through games from a book or magazine? in the Playing section of the Chess FAQs.

Just enclose your move sequence in [[ ]]. For example:

Example 1:
[[1.e4 c5]]

Example 2: A longer game:

Speelman,J (2583) - Cooper,J (2318) [A06]
4NCL/Div1/SWD1-WG1 Rd01-West Bromwich (1.2), 23.11.2002

[[1.Nf3 d5 2.b3 c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.Ba3 e6 7.c4 Bd6 
8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.Nc3 Nf6 11.Rc1 0-0 12.Na4 c4 
13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.bxc4 d4 15.g4 Nxg4 16.hxg4 Bxg4 17.Rg1 Bxf3 
18.Qxf3 Qa3 19.Qd1 Rab8 20.Rg3 Rfe8 21.Kf1 dxe3 22.Rxe3 Qd6 
23.Nc3 1-0]]
  

Note: Only enclose the move list in [[ ]], not the header information.

You can insert a collapsible hint using:

[hint]This is the Hint[/hint]

Example 1:
[hint]Check out Qxh7+[/hint]

Example 2:
[hint]His name begins with B![/hint]

Note: You cannot use double quotes (") inside hints. For apostrophes, use a backslash escape:

Example 3:
[hint]Today\'s the day, let\'s start to play.[/hint]

This feature works only in the main ChessWorld Forums. It is not supported in Game Forums, the Play page, or Homepage messages.

You can quote from a posting by clicking the Quote link just below the message. In your reply, the original message will appear in a framed block and include identifying tags.

Example:
[quote="their name"] What was in the message. [/quote]

To keep the message readable, consider editing the quote content. Just make sure you don’t delete the tags: [quote="their name"] and [/quote].

To indicate edits, use an ellipsis …. You can also insert clarifying words in square brackets.

[quote="their name"] You can quote … the original … [but] … we suggest that you … indicate where the message has been edited...[/quote]

For long messages, you may split quotes and respond part-by-part:

[quote="their name"] You can quote ... the original ...[/quote]

Use shortcut codes followed by an = sign and the identifying number.

Example – to link to game 100000:
gm=100000

Available Shortcuts:

        gm  - Game
        tm  - Team
        ll* - League
        po  - Poll
        pl  - Player
        st  - Specialised Tournament
        dt  - Default Tournament
        xat - Annotated game
        pu  - Puzzle
        ko  - Knockout Tournament
        lx  - League Division CrossTable
        gp  - Game (play through)
  

These shortcut tools appear just below the reply input box. Once submitted, they become clickable links.

Yes. In forum threads, below the poster’s name, you’ll see this icon: and a Topics started link.

Clicking that takes you to the

ChessWorld aims to maintain a respectful environment. Posts may be rejected if they contain words or expressions that could be interpreted as offensive or spam-like.

We also block certain website references and HTML-related terms (even embedded in longer words). For instance, the word description contains the substring script, which may trigger filters.

To avoid rejection, consider:

• Rewording problematic words
• Replacing vowels with asterisks (e.g. d*scription)

The list of excluded terms is confidential and subject to change without notice. It is not publicly disclosed, and decisions regarding content are final and non-negotiable.

No! ChessWorld welcomes contributions to all Forums, but posts must follow our Terms and Conditions. Content should always be appropriate to the specific Forum.

In particular, the ChessWorld Café is intended for non-controversial discussion, though mature discussions are encouraged.

Posts that violate the Terms or are inappropriate may result in loss of posting privileges.

Full access to all Forums is a benefit of Full Membership.

Guest Members can view only a limited set of Forums (e.g. articles and chess discussions). However, the HelpDesk is accessible to all Members.

There are two main methods:

The first method: On the Forums ... Latest Posts page, use the Keyword search at the top to find threads. Below each topic, the Search keywords link lets you explore specific word usage within the Latest Posts pages.

You can refine your search at the top of the Search Keywords page by clearing the default thread name and entering your own keywords. This lets you search across all Latest Posts content. You’ll also see Search by keyword links for each word in a topic title.

The second method: Use the Google™ powered search box found on the Chess Forum and Suggestions Forum index pages, or at the top of each thread in the Suggestions Forum.

Enter your keyword(s) and press

To subscribe, visit a Forum and click the

If a Member replies to a Forum post you’ve made, you’ll receive an Email notification — regardless of your subscription status.

This is a built-in courtesy feature and cannot be disabled. If you prefer not to receive such Emails, consider refraining from posting unless necessary.

At the top of every thread, you’ll see a link: If you see anything that you find offensive, please report it to the Helpdesk forum.

Clicking this link generates a message containing technical info about the thread. Don’t alter this data. Instead, explain clearly what you found offensive, and specify the user or post in question.

Insufficient reports cannot be acted on. The report goes directly to the HelpDesk and is treated as confidential.

ChessWorld values your help in keeping Forums respectful and enjoyable for all.

No! We strongly advise against posting your email address on any public ChessWorld or Internet forum. Doing so could expose you to spam or malicious activity.

If you trust your opponent, consider sending your email via a direct message — never through the in-game message box, as those are viewable by all Members.

In rare cases where you need to send your email to the HelpDesk, rest assured that all HelpDesk messages are completely confidential and visible only to Admins.

First, check the Help ... menu and the detailed FAQ pages. You may also find help by posting in the Site Related Forums — many Members are happy to assist.

However, if your query is private or sensitive, the HelpDesk is the appropriate place. All HelpDesk messages are confidential between you and Site Admins.

Tips for effective HelpDesk use:

• Use a brief and descriptive subject line.
• If your query involves a game or tournament, include the number.
• Be clear and detailed in your message.

*** Insufficient information can delay resolution, as we may have to contact you again for details.

*** After submitting, check Help ... My HelpDesk Posts for a reply. You’ll also receive an email notification.

*** If a follow-up is needed, reply on the same thread — don’t start a new one.

Remember – one topic = one thread.

To ensure high-quality support, there’s a limit on the number of new threads you can start at the HelpDesk within a 24-hour period. This discourages users from splitting related issues across multiple threads.

There is no limit on the number of replies you can make on an existing thread.

Maintaining thread continuity helps Admins provide quicker and more accurate responses.

Annotations can only be requested for completed games.

You can locate your games on the Play ... My Completed Games page. Each game has a

The Visual Annotation feature lets you mark a board with arrows, lines, circles, and squares to highlight ideas or tactics—ideal for coaching or discussion. It’s simple to use and doesn’t require programming knowledge.

Starting:
View a board with the desired position (e.g. a forum post board or a board created via a FEN string). For example, to load a board for testing, post this in the Forum testing area:

position[1r2r1k1/p4ppp/2pq4/8/2P5/2N1R3/P2P1P2/2RQ1K2]

Markers:

• Arrow – shows direction: [arrow]x1,y1,x2,y2[/arrow]
• Line – connects two squares: [line]x1,y1,x2,y2[/line]
• Circle – outline a square or piece: [circle]x,y[/circle]
• Square – outlines a square: [square]x,y[/square]
• Filled Square – paints a square: [fillsquare]x,y[/fillsquare]

Colors: You may use: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Grey, White.
Example: [color]red[/color]

Board Coordinates:
Squares are identified as (x,y), with 1–8 in both directions. a1 is (1,1), g8 is (8,8), and so on.
e4 = 5,4      c6 = 3,6

You can use fractional values (e.g., 6.5,4.5) to mark between squares, though this is discouraged for squares/fills.

Commands:
Use the format: [command]values[/command]
Always use square brackets and write each command on a new line.

Examples:

• Arrow: [arrow]5,1,8,1[/arrow] (e1 to g1)
• Line: [line]4,8,4,1[/line] (open file on d8–d1)
• Circle: [circle]1,4[/circle]
• Knight move (method 1):
  [line]2,1,2,3[/line]
  [arrow]2,3,3,3[/arrow]
• Knight move (method 2): [arrow]2,1,3,3[/arrow]
• En passant (g5xf6):
  [line]7,5,7,5.5[/line]
  [arrow]7,5.5,6,6[/arrow]
• Pin (a4–c6–e8):
  [line]1,4,5,8[/line]
  [circle]1,4[/circle]
  [circle]3,6[/circle]
  [square]5,8[/square]

With just a little practice, visual annotation becomes easy and powerful!

ChessWorld welcomes game suggestions for the Masters Collection. PGN scores (Portable Game Notation) are usually public domain and acceptable. However, annotations and commentary are considered intellectual property.

To post annotated games:

• (i) You must attribute the original author or source
• (ii) You must have permission to republish (from the author, publisher, or website)

By submitting such content, you agree to take full responsibility for ensuring proper rights were obtained.

Check all PGN entries carefully — correct player names, tournament/event names, and locations are essential for publication in the Masters Collection.

There are a number of commonly used shorthand codes that make the work of the Annotator easier and inform the reader. Although it is possible to use specific symbols, these are dependent upon the fonts available to the end user. For maximum compatibility, we recommend the following selection using common keyboard characters:

    1-0       Black resigns
    0-1       White resigns
    1/2-1/2   Draw agreed
    +         Check
    ++        Mate (# is also used)

    +-        White is winning
    +=        White is slightly better
    +/-       White is clearly better

    -+        Black is winning
    =+        Black is slightly better
    -/+       Black is clearly better
  

You can use the

    !         Good move
    !!        Superb, or very good, move
    ?         Bad move
    !?        Controversial, or interesting, move
    ?!        Dubious move
    ??        Poor move, or blunder
  

Perhaps the simplest advice is to read a number of annotations by other players before starting on your own.

Ideally, an annotation should be instructive without being over-complex. It should explain the reasons for specific positions, and how they may be exploited or improved. If any variations are introduced, they should be presented in a way that retains clear meaning.

One common weakness is where an Annotator uses an engine to assist in their analysis and then includes lengthy sequences of computer-generated moves with no explanation. This is not helpful to most Members.

The following annotated fragment from the game Maroczy vs. Pillsbury 1896 illustrates a typical approach that is both illustrative and informative:

12. ... Bf6 Attacking White's unprotected c3-pawn, and, beyond it, White's Queen's Rook, an attack that White ...

13.d6! ... completely ignores!

c6 Black can't play [13. ... Bxc3 because of 14.dxc7 Qf6 15.cxb8=Q Rxb8 16.Bxb8 Bxa1 17.Qxa1] and Black has lost two pieces. 
Better than the text might be [13. ... cxd6, when play might continue 14.Bb3 as in the game, and if 14. ... Bxc3 15.Ng5 Qf6 
[15. ... Bxa1? 16.Bxf7+ Kh8 17.Qh5 h6 18.Qg6 and Black is lost] 16.Bxf7+ Kh8 17.Qd3 g6 18.Qh3 h5 19.Bxg6 Qxg6 20.Qxc3+ Kg8 21.Rad1]
and White has what is probably a winning advantage.

So, back to move 13, Black must instead play, after [13. ... cxd6 14.Bb3 Be5, and after, say, 15.Bg5 Bf6 16.Re1 Rf8] Black has a playable game.

14.Bb3 This Bishop was doing little on a4, so Maroczy points it at f7, the perennial weak spot for Black.
  

Yes. Although ChessWorld does not allow the use of an engine during actual play, there is no objection to using one for post-game analysis.

Engine exploration can be instructive, but including complex lines without explanation offers little value. As a courtesy, it’s helpful to add a brief final note acknowledging the engine used.

To protect your annotation while it's in progress, include Annotation in progress near the beginning of the Game Introduction box.

This prevents it from being deleted in our regular checks and hides it from other members. We also recommend keeping a separate copy until the annotation is complete.

You can revisit and update your annotations at any time. Annotations with minimal or irrelevant content may be removed at our discretion.

Yes. Many players like to prepare annotations while the game is ongoing. Use the

Yes. You should regularly back up your work. While copy/paste is an option, use the Annotation Notepad's built-in buttons:

• Submit and preview all annotations! — stores your work on the ChessWorld server.
• Store — saves your work locally on your computer, but it may be lost when the browser closes.

Yes. Use the Comment input box below the Annotation Notepad board to enter variations in as much detail as you wish. Once you are satisfied with the content, press the

There are no fixed rules, as the ChessWorld Annotation feature is designed to be easy to use for all Members, and is therefore quite tolerant of minor user errors.

In the interests of clarity for the reader we recommend the following guidelines.

The standard abbreviations for the names of the pieces may be used but they must always be in uppercase, otherwise the entry will be invalid. If a proposed move involves the taking of a piece, then, conventionally, the move would be written Nxf3, however, the shorter version Nf3 or even f3f5 is also acceptable, but, perhaps a little less helpful to the reader.

You could consider inserting a quite complex sequence, such as:
     11. ...Nxe7 12.Ne5 Qf6 13.Bxf7+ Kf8
If you entered that text in that format, without any enclosing brackets, it would appear as a comment. If this were not your intention then you should enclose the whole sequence in brackets, thus:
     (11. ...Nxe7 12.Ne5 Qf6 13.Bxf7+ Kf8)

It is possible to use either normal parentheses, ( ), or square brackets, [ ], as long as each opening bracket is matched by a closing bracket. You could even mix the brackets and still show a clickable variation, although we do not recommend such a strategy!

If you wish to show a move for White, use syntax like 12.Ne5 — the point . after the move number is essential. For a Black move, write 12. ... Qf6 with appropriate spacing. While formats like 12....Qf6 are accepted, they may lack clarity.

In all cases, follow conventions and include appropriate spacing for clarity.

Yes. The guidelines above also apply, but, in addition, you can selectively number your different variations, as follows:

    1: (15.Qa3+ c5 16.Nxc5 Kg8 17.Nxd3)
    2: (15.Qa3+ d6 16.exd6 Kg8 17.dxc7)
    3: (15.Qa3+ Kg8?? 16.Qe7 Bxf2+ 17.Kxf2 h6 18.Qxd8+ Kh7 19.Qxc7)
    4: (15.Qa3+ Bc5?? 16.Qxc5+)
  

Note the use of the colon ':' after the variation number. Do not use a parenthesis for the label, or the variation may not be clickable. A space between the number and variation is optional but improves readability.

To display variations on separate lines, input them as such in your annotation. To prevent the sequence from starting on the same line as the initial move, begin with a line break.

No. Although the appearance of, and access to, some of the screens may vary, the underlying software is identical and all of the guidelines discussed within this section are fully applicable.

No. At the present time there is no facility for a Member to delete an annotation that has been started. However, to achieve the same effect, if you include the words Annotation in progress in the text — preferably at or near the beginning of the Game Introduction box — your content will not be visible to any other Member.

Yes. Go to your Homepage and open the

It is possible to copy many ChessWorld pages by using the built-in features of your computer and browser. However, you should be aware that the ChessWorld annotation feature is designed to be usable for Members and is not fully compatible with the normal PGN standard. Any copies you make may not function as expected with your own software.

ChessWorld cannot offer any advice regarding either conversion to, or compatibility with, your own software.

This Icon will appear on your play page once you have completed at least one full annotation. Your Opponent(s), or other Members, can click on the Icon and be taken to your annotation(s).

You should be aware that if, at the absolute discretion of ChessWorld, your submission is regarded as trivial or lacking in thoughtful comment, it may be removed without prior notice. In this case, and if you have only completed the one annotation, then the Icon would automatically be removed from your play page.

Go to the Improve ... menu and select the Puzzles option. The ChessWorld Puzzles page offers two options at the top:

• Rated Puzzle system. – Takes you to the Rated Puzzles page. See related entries below for more information.
• Master Collection Games as interactive puzzles. – Leads to the Play like the Masters feature, described in the Masters Collection section.

If you want to try a puzzle without filters, scroll down the page to see many listed puzzles.

In the right-hand column, four puzzle types are available:

• Rated Interactive. – If available, it takes you to the Rated Puzzle page to try solving it. For more info, see “Q. How can I attempt to solve a rated puzzle?”
• Unrated Interactive. – Opens a new window. You can attempt the puzzle with themes like Mating attack. Feedback is provided on wrong or correct moves with buttons like
  OK or

  I give up!
• Normal. – Opens a non-interactive board, helping you improve mental visualization. The board includes guidance like Black to play and win and a difficulty rating (0–10). Solutions can be revealed gradually.
• Play the Computer. – Loads the puzzle on the ChessWorld computer board for open-ended solving. No hints or outcomes are provided. The computer plays optimal responses without indicating incorrect moves.

Go to the Improve ... menu and select the Puzzles option. On the ChessWorld Puzzles page, scroll down to find a puzzle offering Rated Interactive in the right-hand column. Alternatively, click the Rated Puzzle system link at the top to see a numeric list of rated puzzles. The board will update when you click on a puzzle number.

Use drag and drop to move pieces on the board.

Once selected, a pop-up will appear prompting you to Click OK. Click the

Go to the Community ... Annotated Games page.

To play a specially created puzzle, click the Annotated Puzzles link. Select a game and click the Interactive Version link. You may be able to start from different positions within the game.

To play through a full Masters game interactively, find one from the list or use the filters. Select the game and click the Interactive Version link.

When a correct move is played, a

Select the game you want and click the

Yes. If a pawn reaches a promotion square, a pop-up will appear offering options in this sequence:

Queen, Q   Rook, R   Bishop, B   Knight, N

When your desired choice is displayed, click

After completing the puzzle, or running out of time, you may wish to have another chance to solve it—though this will not affect your performance rating.

Click on My Scores at the top of the page. Depending on your result, choose one of the following links:
     Most recent puzzles attempted | 1st attempt solved | Timed out Puzzles | My weaknesses

If you solved the puzzle, click Most recent puzzles attempted or 1st attempt solved. Find the Puzzle ID, click View in the Statistics column, and then select Retry Puzzle on the right side of the screen.

If you timed out, use the Timed out Puzzles link to locate the failed attempts and retry using Retry Puzzle #nnnn.

When the pop-up says You have already tried this puzzle before. click

No. Only you can access your individual puzzle stats. Other Members can only view aggregated data with no personally identifiable breakdown.

Your performance remains private unless you choose to share it with friends or post on a Forum. ChessWorld respects your privacy and does not publish identifiable puzzle data.

On the Rated Puzzles page, click the My weaknesses link. This opens the unique ChessWorld Puzzle Weakness Analysis page.

On the left, you'll see Tactical Methods where you've struggled, including how many puzzles you’ve attempted and relevant Puzzle IDs. Click a Puzzle ID to retry.

Yes. Solving puzzles provides valuable insight. Even if you succeed, reviewing solutions helps clarify unclear elements.

Click the Tactics Articles link at the top of the page to access material written by a FIDE-rated player for further learning.

Hopefully this won’t happen—but if you spot an error or alternative solution, use the Feedback link and post in the Forum.

Be sure to include the Puzzle number, otherwise resolution will be delayed.

Yes. Go to Improve ... > Puzzles, then click Rated Puzzle system and finally Create new puzzle.

You’ll see a board with pieces in the starting position. To start from a blank board, click

If your ChessWorld rating is below 1600, the Create new puzzle link will not be available.

These icons are awarded once you successfully complete at least 5 rated puzzles. Afterward, the icon will appear next to your name on the playing page. When another Member hovers over it, they will see something like: This player has successfully solved more than 5 rated puzzles – xx rated puzzles.

The 'xx' value updates as you attempt more puzzles, but the number of successful attempts is not updated—this is an achievement badge, not a rating.

Only Rated Interactive puzzles count toward the icon. Solving Unrated Interactive, Normal puzzles, or the Puzzle of the Day will not contribute.

To compare your performance, click Community at the top of the Rated Puzzle page. By default, you’ll see your stats compared to the last 1000 entries. You can adjust this threshold using links at the top. Scroll down to see the Top 100 Full Member Puzzle solvers, which also updates based on your threshold settings.

     The green icon appears if you’ve solved more than 5 rated puzzles.
     The red icon shows if you’ve solved a puzzle in the last 30 days.

Yes! ChessWorld provides sound effects for a more engaging experience, but you can turn them off if you prefer silence.

Click the Turn Sound On or Turn Sound Off link at the top of the page.

The basic 'default beep' cannot be disabled via the site. To disable that, you’ll need to adjust your computer’s system settings—please refer to your system's help files for guidance.

The ChessWorld Masters Collection includes over two million high-quality games by past and present chess masters.

It supports a variety of ChessWorld features designed to instruct, inspire, and help Members improve by studying top-level tactics and strategies.

Both features use the Masters Collection but with different purposes:

• Learn from the Masters lets you search master games and step through them move by move, analyzing the strategies used.
• Play like the Masters puts you in the shoes of a Grandmaster—you try to make the moves they did while the system auto-responds with opponent moves.

Each feature is explained in more detail below in their respective sections.

The Advanced Search box on the Masters Collection page can be used freely by combining any of the available filters.

Some filters have dropdowns for ease of use, but manual entry is also allowed.

Use the right-hand filter panel to define ranges using From..., To..., or Equal... values. Ensure the left value is smaller than the right, or you’ll get a No games found! message.

For ECO codes: 'A' is lower than 'B'; within letters, A55 < A88. If all three boxes are filled, the Equal... value is used.

Click

Yes, the Quick Search option at the top of the Masters Collection homepage offers multiple simplified search modes:

• Game (default)
• Tag
• Move Pattern
• Tournament
• Game Number
• Surname,Firstname
• ECO Code
• PGN Game Score

1. Game Search

Enter comma-separated fields: White surname, Black surname, Year, Number of moves

Examples:

ada

ada,polg

ada,,2001

ada,polg,,43

Select

Pe4pc5

Pe4-pc5

90600

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 ...

This unique ChessWorld feature allows you to input moves by clicking a piece and then the destination square. Informative comments will update automatically based on the position.

When satisfied, click

Tick the Hide Filter Header box in the Results style row, then click

Click the

To ensure consistent performance for all Members, ChessWorld may limit search results. Use more specific filters to refine your query and reduce the result size.

If the site is busy and your search is too broad, the process may time out. Try again after a short wait.

If the issue persists, contact the HelpDesk with full details so it can be investigated.

Use the Quick pick links or search for a specific Master. You'll be taken to the ChessWorld – Play like the Master page.

You can jump forward/back 10 moves, and switch sides via the Switch sides link. Set your preference for how many attempts before hints are shown (1, 2, or 3).

If needed, use

Visit the Videos menu to explore the Kingscrusher YouTube Chess Channel.

The free library includes thousands of master game analyses and instructional content. Use the dropdown menu to select a topic, and you'll be taken to a page with related video links.

Yes. Go to the Learn from the Masters page, then click Master Tools, and finally Great Game Kibitzing.

You’ll see a list of games with commentary. Check the post count to gauge activity. You may also comment on any game privately or publicly.

This icon indicates that a ChessWorld video exists for the game. Click the title to view it.

Open the Learn from the Masters page and click the Master Tools link. Then click the World Champions link to view a list of champions since 1886. There's also a list for Women World Champions starting from 1927.

Each champion has a link to their games in the Masters Collection. Many also include biographies or links to selected notable games.

Go to Learn from the Masters → Master Tools → ECO Navigator. This tool lets you explore opening trends over 100+ years or even from the 15th century.

Clicking on an ECO code like B20, Sicilian Defence opens a filtered Masters Collection view showing relevant games and top players of that variation.

From the Learn from the Masters page, click Master Tools → FIDE Players A–Z. Select by letter or two-letter prefix for faster search.

By default, FIDE title holders are shown. To see all FIDE players, click All players. Use Back to A–Z to return.

Click a player name to view their games in the Masters Collection. Click FIDE card to see their latest FIDE stats.

From Learn from the Masters → Master Tools, click Year Navigator. You'll see a list of years with the number of games recorded.

Earlier years may have fewer games, but they are often of high historical value. From 1900 onward, coverage becomes extensive.

Once a year is selected, you'll see all tournaments listed by date/location. Use filters to show only tournaments with a certain minimum number of games.

After selecting a tournament, you'll be shown all related games in a refreshed Masters Collection view, including ranking, scores, and insights.

Yes. Open the Learn from the Masters page and click Master Tools, then click Tournaments. You can choose a Master and then the Tournament you'd like to study.

Adjust the minimum number of games (1–1000) to narrow results. Use the alphabetic or multi-letter selectors to filter tournaments by name.

After choosing a year, tournaments are listed by date/location. Choose one to view all its games, along with statistical summaries like ranking and score breakdowns.

Go to Learn from the Masters → Master Tools → Brilliancies. This opens a list of Brilliancy Prize–winning games from the past century.

Note: if you use the search filter after loading this page, it will reset the list. Use Masters Collection → Brilliancies to return to the original list.

Yes. You can annotate games to help others. Open the Advanced Search page and click Annotation requests to find games Members want annotated.

Click Annotate next to a game to access the annotation board. For more help, refer to the Annotations section in this FAQ.

Note: If your ChessWorld rating is below 1900, the Annotate link will not be available.

Open Learn from the Masters → Master Tools → Latest Annotated Positions.

This provides a list of annotated games, organized by opening and move order. Click the PGN link to view the related games in the Masters Collection.

These are curated selections of high-level or classic games for easy access. You can play through them or take the challenge of replicating the moves.

Completed games are automatically removed from your Quick list, helping you progress through the selection without needing to track them manually.

There are two types:

• Custom Collections: Open Learn from the Masters → Master Tools → Custom Collection. These are user-curated game sets focused on specific themes.
• Tag Game Collections: Open Learn from the Masters → Master Tools → Tag Game Collections. These use tags to group games by topic, offering fast thematic study without complex searches.

Open the Learn from the Masters page and click on the Master Tools link. The Endgame Search link provides you with a convenient means to select and study games with specific combinations of pieces.

You may enter the designated pieces manually, in descending order of value – Q R B N P, in the White pieces and Black pieces boxes. Enter the pieces for White in uppercase (e.g., 2R+1B) and lowercase for Black (e.g., 2r+1b). There is no need to enter K or k as they are added automatically.

Alternatively, use the pre-selected choices in the Select from below boxes, which list nearly 70 combinations with their frequency.

Whatever method you use, you must specify pieces for both White and Black.

You can also filter by Master using the Select White or Select Black dropdowns. Note that no results may appear if the selected Master hasn't played with those combinations—try a different one.

Learning isn’t always easy, but ChessWorld offers a series of instructional videos based on games from the Masters Collection. Many games are also annotated.

To access these, open the Learn from the Masters page, click Master Tools, then Most Instructive Masters. You'll see a list of players chosen for instructive play. The list updates over time based on available videos and annotations.

Click on a Master's name to view a homepage showing up to three videos. More videos are linked below the display area. These are designed to provide helpful commentary and insight.

The same page also includes game listings by year and by color played. Use the Annotated Games link for games with commentary, each with a short introduction from the annotator.

Select a player from the Masters Collection and go to their Homepage. There, use the White vs Champions or Black vs Champions link.

These links show relevant games in reverse chronological order, highlighting any wins over World Champions. Click any game to view it move-by-move.

Yes. On any player's Homepage, click White Upsets or Black Upsets.

You'll see a list of major upsets (typically with 50+ FIDE rating difference), ordered by rating gap in descending order.

Open the Improve menu and select the Masters Collection link.

To export a game in PGN format from ChessWorld, simply use the

Once you've saved a PGN file, you can import it into any major chess program. For example, in ChessBase, simply double-click the file to open and import it for analysis or replay.

To import a PGN file into a program like Fritz:

• Copy the PGN text to the clipboard.
• In Fritz, use Edit / Paste → Paste Game.

The game will be fully available for analysis using Fritz’s features.

Note: Use of chess engines to assist in live games violates ChessWorld rules. See our Terms and Conditions for full details.

Yes. In ChessBase, select a game and use Edit ... Copy → Copy Game or Copy Position. Paste the result into your forum post.

Other software may offer similar options like Copy notation to clipboard.

To post a playable game in the forum:

• Ensure the game is in PGN format.
• It must be under ~1950 characters.
• Enclose it in [[ and ]], e.g. [[1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4]].

You can also include annotations in curly braces (e.g., {This is a comment}).

If the post exceeds the character limit, it may not display correctly. A game with around 100 moves and no comments should remain under the limit.

This allows you to start a new discussion thread in a forum and invite comments. This option is only available for the first post in a new thread—it cannot be inserted into an existing thread.

Use standard PGN format, copy only the move list (no headers), and enclose it within triple square brackets. For example:
[[[1. e2-e4 c7-c5 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3. d2-d4 cxd4 4. Nf3xd4 0-1]]]

The game will be shown with an empty comment box directly above the post. New comments appear below, most recent first.

Recommended subject line formats:
– For ChessWorld games: Game # - Comments Welcome
– For published games: Kasparov-Weinstein - Comments Welcome

A concise explanation is available at the Wikipedia page: Portable Game Notation.

For full technical details, refer to the ICC PGN specification page: this ICC page.

The default BookFinder search box opens to Amazon.com, though availability may vary by regional Amazon sites.

You can also explore:

• Books owned by Members – Search for books by title or ASIN/ISBN. You can change sort/display options.
• Most Popular books – Use the search box to locate popular titles.
• Biggest Collectors – Click a Member's name to browse their collection with similar search and display tools.

To write a review:

1. Go to the BookFinder page and select Books owned by Members.
2. Find the book, click the title, then click Review this book.
3. You can also do this via the Most Popular books or Biggest Collectors pages.

You will be taken to the Chess Book Reviewers Forum where you can compose and edit your post as many times as needed. Others can view but not reply to your draft.

This forum isn’t listed in the standard menus. To return later:

1. Go to Forums ... Forums Index.
2. Click Chess Forums (more ...).
3. Scroll down to Chess Book Reviewers and open it.

Once ready, remove the top placeholder content (everything above the ====== line) and click

Open the BookFinder page and choose one of the links: Books owned by Members, Most Popular books, or Biggest Collectors. These display various book lists.

If you find a book you already own and want to add it to your collection, click the title, then on the next page click: Do you own this book? Click HERE to indicate that you own this book.

To remove a book later, go to your Homepage, open the

We cannot recommend a specific spreadsheet program due to differences in user setups.

However, our preconfigured spreadsheets are based on Google Sheets, which is freely available to Gmail or Google account holders. You can also visit Google Sheets to create a free account.

We also provide separated variable text files that can be imported into Google Sheets or any modern spreadsheet software.

For more help, consult Google’s own documentation.

Yes. We offer preconfigured spreadsheets in Google Sheets format, including indexes like our YouTube video guide.

You may also export your personal game records as separated variable text files for use in your own spreadsheet programs.

When you first open one of our spreadsheets, it's still 'owned' by ChessWorld. You’ll be able to view it, but not modify it.

To gain full access:

1. Click File → Make a copy.
2. If that option is greyed out, sign in (or create a Google account).
3. Enter a meaningful filename instead of the default Copy of ....
4. Press OK to create your copy. All menu options will become available.

Your copy is saved automatically and will be available next time you log into Google Sheets.

To manage your files:

• Click the ≡ (menu) icon to list your documents.
• To delete a file, click the ⋮ (more) icon next to it, then click the trash/bin icon.

You can sort the sheet by any column to rearrange the data as you prefer.

Click the column header (A, B, C, etc.), then click the ▼ icon on the right side of the header. Choose your desired sort option. For large spreadsheets, sorting may take a few moments.

ChessWorld spreadsheets typically have the first two rows frozen and merged for readability. To move columns, you may need to:

Unmerge cells: Select the row, then go to Format → Merge cells → Unmerge.

Unfreeze rows: Select the row, then go to View → Freeze → No rows.

After this, you can rearrange columns:

• Use Edit → Move column left or Move column right.
• Alternatively, click and drag the column header to a new position.

You can re-merge and re-freeze rows using the same menus when finished.

Yes. Click the column header (A, B, C, etc.), then:

• Go to Edit → Delete column 'x', or
• Click the ▼ icon on the header and select Delete.

The hyperlinks in our spreadsheets are tied to www.ChessWorld.net.

If you're logged into a different domain (e.g., letsplaychess.com), a new login window will open for ChessWorld.net. Log in there to use the links.

It refers to a text file format where data fields are separated using the pipe character |.

Unlike commas or tabs (which may appear in chess data), the pipe character is rarely used in content, making it ideal for clean data separation.

The pipe character | usually shares the key with the backslash \ on UK/US keyboards. Don’t confuse it with the broken bar ¦, which appears near the number 1 key and requires AltGr on many keyboards.

Exported separated variable text files contain:

• Column headers matching ChessWorld display tables.
• Data rows underneath.

The fields are separated using the pipe character | to prevent conflicts with commas, tabs, and spaces that may appear in chess metadata.

Open the Play ... My Completed Games page in Summary view. Click the Export Pipe Delimited ... link to generate a separated variable text file.

Once ready, copy and paste the contents into your local system using a text editor. We recommend naming it clearly, e.g., mydata.text.

You can import this file into your spreadsheet application. Optionally, edit the file in a text editor to remove:

• Hyperlinks
• Duplicate columns (like Game and Game #)

Instead of reloading all your data from scratch, you can simply append new rows to your existing spreadsheet. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Use the Export ... feature to get your new data. If needed, remove unwanted lines from the separated variable file before proceeding.

Step 2: When importing, set the import option to Append rows to current sheet instead of Create new spreadsheet. This adds new data at the bottom.

Step 3: Insert blank rows at the top of the sheet, adding a few extra rows as a buffer.

Step 4: Cut the newly added rows from the bottom and paste them into the top. Be careful not to overwrite existing data. You can delete any buffer rows afterward.

Your revised spreadsheet is now ready to use and modify as needed!