AI chess helper: the best next move from a photo
Stuck in a position from a book, a puzzle or a finished game? Upload a photo or screenshot of the board — or set it up with a few taps — and the AI chess helper shows the best next move, animated on the board, and lets you replay the whole best line move by move.
Two ways to start
- Photo or screenshot: add it and the AI starts reading straight away — you watch the board fill in row by row, then see it set up exactly like your photo, with your photo right beside it to compare.
- Set up board: tap a piece, tap a square. Start from the initial position or a clear board.
White or Black to move?
Choose who moves next with one tap. The tool guesses from the photo when it can (for example from the last-move highlight in a chess app) and shows the best move for that side. Switch sides any time to see the other side's best move instantly.
Engine-verified moves, animated
When the position is in the Lichess cloud database, a real chess engine finds the best move and the best line several moves deep, with its evaluation (for example "+0.2 for White" or "Mate in 1"). An arrow shows the move, the piece slides into place, and you can play the line forward and back with ◀ ▶ — or tap any move in the line to jump to it.
When the position isn't in the cloud, the AI analyses the exact position and explains its idea, the opponent's main threat and the likely continuation. Tap Explain this move to get the same explanation for an engine move.
Honest about misreads
Reading a board from a photo is hard, even for AI. Every suggested move is checked against the position: if it isn't legal, the tool tells you a piece was misread instead of showing a wrong move. Tap Edit position to fix the board in seconds and analyse again.
Tips for accurate board reading
- Screenshots from chess apps work best
- For a real board, shoot from straight above with the whole board visible
- Make sure coordinates or both kings are visible so the orientation is clear
Fair play
Use the chess helper to study, solve puzzles and review finished games. Getting outside help during a rated game is cheating on every chess site.