XBoard: Open-Source Chess Interface
A popular open-source chess interface for playing and analyzing chess games, supporting chess engines and featuring game databases and analysis tools.
What is XBoard?
XBoard is an open-source graphical user interface for chess. It allows users to play chess games against human opponents or computer chess engines, and has extensive tools for analyzing games and positions.
Some key features of XBoard include:
- Supports popular chess engines like Stockfish, rendering the moves the engine suggests.
- Databases of millions of chess games that can be searched, viewed and analyzed.
- Powerful analysis mode evaluating positions, showing possible moves and engine evaluations.
- Customizable board and piece styles, with 2D and 3D modes available.
- Network play allowing online games against human opponents.
- Scripts can be written to automate common tasks.
- Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms.
With its flexibility, analysis power and database integration, XBoard is one of the most fully-featured open-source chess interfaces available.
XBoard Features
Features
- Graphical user interface for playing chess
- Supports many chess variants like Chess960
- Integrates with chess engines like Stockfish for computer opponents
- Game database to store, view and analyze games
- Analysis board to review games and explore moves
- Supports online play via chess servers
- Customizable board and piece themes
- Scripting support to automate tasks and create bots
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Free and open source
Cross-platform support
Strong chess engine integration
Lots of features for game analysis
Active community support
Cons
Outdated interface design
Steep learning curve for new users
Limited game database features compared to dedicated software
Lacks some modern online multiplayer features
Official Links
The Best XBoard Alternatives
Top Games and Chess and other similar apps like XBoard
Chessmaster
Chessmaster is a popular chess-playing video game series developed and published by Ubisoft. The first version was released in 1986 originally for the Amiga. Since then, Chessmaster has been released across various platforms including Windows, Mac, iOS, and game consoles.At its core, Chessmaster aims to help players learn the game...
Tarrasch Chess GUI
Tarrasch Chess GUI is a free, open source graphical user interface specifically designed for chess players and coaches. It runs on Windows PCs and provides various tools for managing and studying chess games and positions.Key features of Tarrasch Chess GUI include:Intuitive game database management with search filters and position setupInbuilt...
5D Chess with Multiverse Time Travel
5D Chess with Multiverse Time Travel is a unique and complex chess game developed by Thunkable Inc. It builds upon the classic rules of chess by adding new dimensions and time travel mechanics.Each chess piece gains the ability to freely move between timelines and parallel universes. Pawns can time travel,...
Lucas Chess
Lucas Chess is a feature-rich, open source chess application developed primarily for the Windows operating system. First released in 2007, Lucas Chess aims to provide tools for analyzing games, studying openings, solving tactical puzzles, and general training to help players improve.For analysis, Lucas Chess integrates with top chess engines like...
Chess Titans
Chess Titans is a computer chess game that is included for free in Microsoft Windows Vista and later Windows operating systems. It features 2D graphics with configurable chess piece sets and boards. The AI opponent has 10 difficulty levels to challenge players of different chess skills.The game follows standard chess...
DreamChess
DreamChess is an open source chess game originally developed for Linux but also available for Windows and macOS. It provides a feature-rich chess playing experience with support for 2D and 3D graphics, online multiplayer games, tutorials to help you learn chess strategies, and AI opponents ranging from beginner to expert...
BabasChess
BabasChess is a free, open-source chess game for Windows. It is developed by Andrew Grant, first released in 2018.BabasChess features a simple 2D graphical interface with animated pieces. It supports local play against computer or human opponents, as well as online multiplayer via services like chess.com. There are multiple difficulty...
DecodeChess
DecodeChess is a feature-rich open source chess software designed to help chess players analyze games and study openings, tactics, strategies and endgames. With an intuitive graphical interface, DecodeChess allows you to easily explore historical chess matches, import game records in multiple formats, and dive deep into positional and tactical aspects...
WinBoard
WinBoard is a free and open source graphical chessboard interface for chess engines and protocols originally released for Windows systems. WinBoard supports the XBoard/WinBoard protocols as well as the Universal Chess Interface (UCI) protocol. The software makes it convenient to use chess engines without the need for command line interfaces.Some...
Brutal Chess
Brutal Chess is a powerful, free, open-source chess engine for Windows, Linux and Android operating systems. Originally based on the Glaurung 2.1 engine, Brutal Chess plays at grandmaster level and has beaten many top engines in competitions.A key feature of Brutal Chess is the ability to adjust the engine's playing...
Better Than Chess
Better Than Chess is a powerful chess engine and analysis tool available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. With the ability to reach Elo ratings over 3400, it provides top-level computer analysis of chess positions and entire games.Key features of Better Than Chess include:State-of-the-art chess engine with move evaluation...
EazeGames
EazeGames is a game development software designed to enable anyone to create mobile games without needing to know how to code. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes building 2D games incredibly easy and fast.With EazeGames, you can create game templates complete with artwork, animations, and basic game logic....
Shotgun King
Shotgun King is a visual novel dating sim game for PC, focused on heterosexual romantic relationships. You play as a young man who moves from the city to a rural seaside town for the summer. There, you spend your time meeting and interacting with various women around town with the...
Shredder Chess
Shredder Chess is one of the strongest and most popular chess programs for Windows. First released in 1993, it utilizes advanced search techniques like deep neural networks to evaluate positions and provide computer analysis.Key features include:Various playing levels up to Grandmaster strength for analysis or playing against the engineDatabase of...
PyChess
PyChess is an open-source chess platform that lets you play, analyze and learn chess games. Developed in Python and Gtk, it is available for Linux, Windows and macOS.As a chess GUI (graphical user interface), PyChess allows you to play chess games against featured chess engines like Stockfish, Critter and Glaurung...
Pure Chess
Pure Chess is a popular chess video game originally developed by Rebel Act Studios for iOS devices in 2012. It was later ported to Android, Windows Phone, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, and Microsoft Windows.The game features beautifully rendered 3D environments and chess sets, ranging from traditional...
GameKnot
GameKnot is an internet chess server launched in 2000 by Steve Odendahl. It allows members to play chess games against other members, participate in tournaments, solve and create chess puzzles, and analyze games using chess engines. GameKnot has over 300,000 members and averages over 15,000 games played daily.Some key features...
JustChess
JustChess is an open-source, cross-platform chess game and engine first released in 2020. It is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems and offers a wide variety of features for chess players of all levels.For graphics, JustChess utilizes both 2D sprite graphics with multiple chess sets to choose from,...
OpeningTree
OpeningTree is an open-source mind mapping and brainstorming application. It allows users to create interactive maps to visually organize ideas, tasks, projects and more. Some key features of OpeningTree include:Real-time collaboration - OpeningTree supports simultaneous editing by multiple users, enabling teams to brainstorm and organize concepts together.Markdown support - Nodes...
Gnome Chess
Gnome Chess is a free and open source chess game included in the GNOME desktop environment. It provides a clean and intuitive interface for playing and analyzing chess games.Key features of Gnome Chess include:Attractive 2D graphics and animations for moving pieces on the boardSupport for online play against human opponents...
Magic Chess 3D
Magic Chess 3D is a fantasy-themed 3D chess video game available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It builds upon the classic gameplay of chess with visually stunning 3D boards and pieces, challenging AI opponents, online multiplayer, and cross-platform play.Instead of traditional chess pieces, Magic Chess 3D allows you to...
Royal 3D Chess
Royal 3D Chess is a feature-rich 3D chess game for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It builds upon the classic game of chess by adding customizable boards, pieces, and rules to allow for new exciting variations.With Royal 3D Chess you can play on spherical boards, cylindrical boards, hex boards, and more....
3D Super Chess
3D Super Chess is an advanced 3D computer chess game developed for Windows. It features gorgeous 3D graphics and animation that brings the chess pieces to life on a visually stunning 3D chess board. With an advanced chess engine AI opponent, it allows players of all levels to enjoy a...
FlChess
flChess is an open-source, cross-platform chess game available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. It is developed in Free Pascal and Lazarus and released under the GNU General Public License.Some key features of flChess include:Attractive 2D and 3D board graphicsSingle-player mode with multiple difficulty levelsMultiplayer support for online games...
Mobialia Chess
Mobialia Chess is a popular free mobile chess application available for both iOS and Android devices. It offers a full-featured chess playing experience tailored for mobile devices.The app provides stunning 3D graphics and animations that bring the chess board and pieces to life. Players can face off against customizable AI...
Chess Game
Chess is a two-player strategy board game that dates back centuries. It is played on a square checkered board between a white set of pieces and a black set of pieces. Each player starts with 16 pieces - 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, and 8...
Chess Walk
Chess Walk is a feature-rich chess analysis program designed to help chess players of all levels study and analyze their games. With Chess Walk, you can load up any chess game and walk through it move-by-move from any point in the game. It generates move trees and evaluations for each...
SkillGamesBoard
SkillGamesBoard is an online platform built specifically for hosting and participating in competitive, skill-based games tournaments. Whether it's for popular esports titles, mobile games, or even board and card games translated digitally, SkillGamesBoard provides the infrastructure to manage every aspect of your tournament.For tournament directors, SkillGamesBoard offers simple and intuitive...
Real Chess 3D
Real Chess 3D is a high definition, realistic chess game designed to provide players with an immersive gameplay experience. It sets itself apart from other chess games with its vivid and customizable 3D graphics.When starting a new game, players can choose from a selection of stunning environments, ranging from traditional...
3D Hartwig chess set
The 3D Hartwig chess set is a modern interpretation of the classic game. It features a minimalist, abstract design that gives the pieces a unique and eye-catching look.Each piece has been carefully crafted with 3D printing technology to have a smooth, rounded shape. The bases have small cutouts that allow...
LightFICS
LightFICS is a free, open-source Internet Chess Server software designed to provide an enjoyable online experience for chess players of all strengths and experience levels. Originally launched in 2011, LightFICS offers many of the features chess fans have come to expect from top chess servers.Players can easily find opponents for...
Chesser
Chesser is a feature-rich, free and open-source chess game available for Windows, macOS and Linux. It provides a 2D board with various themes and pieces to choose from as well as a 3D mode for more visually impressive games. Chesser supports both local games against computer opponents ranging from very...
BrainyChess
BrainyChess is an open-source, cross-platform chess program with an easy-to-use graphical user interface. It allows you to play chess against an artificial intelligence opponent with various skill levels to match players of all strengths.BrainyChess features an advanced chess engine that provides challenging gameplay. It has beginner, intermediate, advanced, and customizable...
Chess Walk Rebirth
Chess Walk Rebirth is a free, open-source chess video game developed for the Windows platform. Originally released in 2020, Chess Walk Rebirth is a remake of the 2008 chess game Chess Walk.The game features 2D graphics and animations, with a simple, intuitive interface. Players can choose to play against an...
Project Invincible
Project Invincible is an open-source, self-hosted kanban project management application inspired by Trello. It allows individuals and teams to visually track tasks, projects, and more by creating digital kanban boards. Boards can be divided into customizable lists and cards.Some key features of Project Invincible include:Creating an unlimited number of boards,...
INemesis
iNemesis is an open-source reverse engineering platform that allows analysts to study and modify executable files for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It features a disassembler, graph view constructor, debugger, and hex editor along with special plugins for analyzing malware families.Some key capabilities of iNemesis include:Disassembling executable code into assembly language...
