Chess Board Editor
A free online chess board editor. Drag pieces onto an empty board to set up any position, choose who moves first and which side keeps castling rights, then copy the FEN string to share the position or open it on the analysis board. No account and no download needed.
What you can do with the board editor
- Build any legal position from scratch, or clear the board and start again.
- Set the side to move, castling rights and en passant square.
- Copy the position as a FEN string to save it, share it, or paste it elsewhere.
- Send the position straight to the analysis board to see the best moves.
What is a FEN string?
FEN (Forsyth–Edwards Notation) is a short line of text that describes a complete chess position — where every piece stands, whose turn it is, castling rights, the en passant square and the move counters. Because it is just text, a FEN is the easiest way to send a position to a coach, paste it into an engine, or store a puzzle. The board editor generates the FEN for you as you place pieces.
Why coaches use a board editor
Setting a position up by hand is the fastest way to study one specific idea. Coaches use a board editor to rebuild a position a student misplayed, to strip a game down to a simple endgame such as king and pawn versus king, or to build a puzzle from scratch. For students, recreating a position from memory is itself a useful exercise — it tests whether you actually saw the board or only remembered the moves.
Frequently asked questions
Is the board editor free?
Yes, completely free with no login or download.
Can I analyse the position I build?
Yes — send it to the analysis board to get engine evaluation and best moves.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The editor works on phones, tablets and desktop browsers.