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Chess Forge for Windows

Chess Forge is a Free and Open Source (FOSS) Windows desktop application facilitating chess studies and training.

It can be used to build opening repertoires, study endgames, middle game strategy, and tactics. For training, it offers the unique Training Mode, plus two distinct solving modes for exercices.

Chess Forge utilizes lichess.org's public API to bring you the Opening Explorer and Endgame Tablebases. This includes the list of Top Games for the current position from lichess's master database. The games can be conveniently previewed before optional import.

Getting Started

Chess Forge can be installed on a Windows PC or used as a portable application.

The simplest way to install the program is to navigate to the download page (click the link below), download the installer, and run it on your PC.

Download Page

Note that currently the installer is not digitally signed, so the browser and/or the Windows system will likely issue a few warnings.

For detailed information and the instructions on using Chess Forge as a portable application, see the Installation Guide (click the link below).

Installation Guide

Run the installed program.

Open a Workbook

You can open a workbook from either the local disk or from the ChessForge online library.

From a local file

Select File->Open from the main menu and choose a workbook. There are a few samples distributed with the installation and you can find them in the Documents/{user_name}/Chess Forge folder.

File->Open menu item

From the online library

Alternatively, if your PC is online, select File->Online Library - Public from the main menu to open Chess Forge's Public Library. Click on any book in the library to view it.

Online Library

Main Window

When you open a given workbook for the first time, it will initially show the chapters view.

Chapters View

Click on Study or double click the chapter's title to open the Study view. The image below identifies the various elements of the window.

Main Window

If the engine is turned on, the box below the Main Chessboard will display the engine lines instead of user hints.

Engine Lines

Self-Indexing Study View

The Study is shown as a uniquely designed, self-indexing view which includes a Variation Index displayed under the chapter's title.

The full variation tree is displayed under the Index and is organized into sections/paragraphs corresponding to the index table. This mimicks the experience of reading a chess book.

Variation Index

Note that as a result, there will typically be no single "main line" in the view. Each "section" has its own "main line".

The index adjusts itself as you edit variations.

The depth of the index can be instantly increased or decreased by clicking the arrows next to the Index's header. If you decrease the depth to 0, the Index will disappear altogether. You can bring it back by clicking the chapter's title.

The depth setting will be remembered for each study between sessions.

Coming in version 1.8: Each indexed variation can be collapsed or expanded for more convenient/focused viewing. The collapsed/expand state is not remembered between sessions. The view always re-opens with all lines expanded.

Games View

The Games view is designed for showing a single game at a time. Therefore, unlike the Study view, it does not have the Variation Index and has a single main line. That main line is, of course, the text of the game (i.e. the actual moves as opposed to any comments that may have been added to the game) and is shown in a bolded font.

Games View

Exercises View

In Chess Forge terminology, an exercise is a game fragment starting at any position. It can be a tactical problem, an endgame study, or any other kind of analysis. The Exercise view differs significantly from the other views.

Exercises View

It lacks the Scoresheet on the right hand side and when opened for the first time in a session the variation tree (a.k.a. Solution) is hidden. You need to click the Show Solution header to open it.

The starting position is shown on a small diagram below the headers and there are prominent buttons allowing the user to enter one of the two solving modes.

Training View

Please refer to the Training page.

Training

Key Features

  • Peruse, study, and evaluate with engines chess content from Chess Forge's workbooks and/or plain PGN files.
  • Study and train against downloaded, coach-supplied, or self-created PGN Workbooks.
  • Author own workbooks for different stages of the game or automatically create them from PGN files.
  • Browse and edit variations in the special self-indexing Study View (see above).
  • View, evaluate, and edit model games with the help of the engine and Opening Explorer.
  • In any position, use the Opening Explorer to preview/import Top Games from lichess.org.
  • View, edit, or solve exercises and endgames. Choose from two solving modes: guessing the main line or submitting an analysis
  • Analyze endgames with tablebases.
  • Download any user's games from lichess.org or chess.com into the currently open or a new workbook.
  • Organize downloaded games of a player into repertoire, white/black, chapters and trees.
  • Test your knowledge against the content of the Workbook. Start a game against the engine from any position.
  • Restart / roll-back your training or your engine game at any point.

Note: some features (e.g the Opening Explorer, Online Library, lichess downloads) are only available if your PC is online.