Last Updated on November 13, 2022
ChessDB is a popular free chess database.
With ChessDB, you can maintain a database of chess games, search games by many criteria, view graphical trends and produce printable reports on players and openings. There are many more features (see below).
ChessDB is based on Scid, but has some bug fixes and other changes to improve upon it.
ChessDB uses a fast, compact and efficient three-file format for chess databases, with the file extensions .si3, .sg3 and .sn3.
Features include:
- Enter games by either:
- Moving the pieces with a mouse.
- Typing in the moves from a keyboard 1.e4 etc.
- Read games from a PGN file – the standard used for chess games. (In ChessDB 3.6.13 and later, it is possible to read all the PGN files in one directory, making it quick to import a lot of games).
- Download them directly into ChessDB from The Week in Chess (TWIC).
- Import games from the history of anyone on ICC and FICS – you can rapidly download the recent games played by people whose games you wish to study.
- A combination of the 6 above.
- Annotate the games by adding:
- Text comments.
- Add standard symbols such as !! (excellent move), ?? (blunder), =+ (black as a slight advantage) etc.
- Add coloured symbols to games, to indicate whatever you want. Lots of different symbols may be used, and lots of different colours.
- Variations showing different lines which may have been interesting.
- Analyse a position with GM strength chess engines such as Crafty and Toga.
- Create Tournament Crosstables.
- Play against many different chess engines from very weak ones to strong chess engines such as Crafty and Toga II.
- UCI engine support.
- Play two chess engines each other to find the strongest.
- Save games in either:
- Standard PGN format.
- HTML (for web pages).
- LaTeX (a high quality DTP/typesetting format).
- Set the pieces on the chessboard then use the Board Search tool to find games in a database which have either the
- Exact position – (all pieces on the same squares).
- Pawns – same material, all pawns in the same position.
- Same material, all pawns on the same files.
- Same material and pawns, but they can be anywhere on the board.
- Generate a rating graph showing the rating vs time of a player.
- Generate a player report, showing statistics of a single player with either the Black or White pieces.
- Classify games according to self defined criteria. (For example, rook endings, games with blunder, games with isolated queens pawn etc).
- Email games for correspondence chess, using the built in email client.
- Use the Header Search tool to find games with specific data in the header, such as:
- Player names.
- Player titles – GM, IM, FW, WGM, WFM, W.
- Event.
- Site.
- Round.
- Result.
- Date or range of dates.
- ECO code.
- and many other search criteria.
- Answer questions like: Is it worth spending much time to study the move 4.Bd2 in the Nimzo Indian defence? The answer is it depends since GMs play 4.Bd2 in less than 0.5% of games with the Nimzo Indian, but players on ICC of about 1400 play it 40% of the time. Such data is useful.
- Statistical significance of chess moves using hypothesis testing.
Website: chessdb.sourceforge.net
Support: FAQ
Developer: David Kirkby, Shane Hudson
License: GNU GPL v2
ChessDB is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Popular series | |
---|---|
The largest compilation of the best free and open source software in the universe. Each article is supplied with a legendary ratings chart helping you to make informed decisions. | |
Hundreds of in-depth reviews offering our unbiased and expert opinion on software. We offer helpful and impartial information. | |
The Big List of Active Linux Distros is a large compilation of actively developed Linux distributions. | |
Replace proprietary software with open source alternatives: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Autodesk, Oracle, Atlassian, Corel, Cisco, Intuit, and SAS. | |
Awesome Free Linux Games Tools showcases a series of tools that making gaming on Linux a more pleasurable experience. This is a new series. | |
Machine Learning explores practical applications of machine learning and deep learning from a Linux perspective. We've written reviews of more than 40 self-hosted apps. All are free and open source. | |
New to Linux? Read our Linux for Starters series. We start right at the basics and teach you everything you need to know to get started with Linux. | |
Alternatives to popular CLI tools showcases essential tools that are modern replacements for core Linux utilities. | |
Essential Linux system tools focuses on small, indispensable utilities, useful for system administrators as well as regular users. | |
Linux utilities to maximise your productivity. Small, indispensable tools, useful for anyone running a Linux machine. | |
Surveys popular streaming services from a Linux perspective: Amazon Music Unlimited, Myuzi, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal. | |
Saving Money with Linux looks at how you can reduce your energy bills running Linux. | |
Home computers became commonplace in the 1980s. Emulate home computers including the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, ZX81, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum. | |
Now and Then examines how promising open source software fared over the years. It can be a bumpy ride. | |
Linux at Home looks at a range of home activities where Linux can play its part, making the most of our time at home, keeping active and engaged. | |
Linux Candy reveals the lighter side of Linux. Have some fun and escape from the daily drudgery. | |
Getting Started with Docker helps you master Docker, a set of platform as a service products that delivers software in packages called containers. | |
Best Free Android Apps. We showcase free Android apps that are definitely worth downloading. There's a strict eligibility criteria for inclusion in this series. | |
These best free books accelerate your learning of every programming language. Learn a new language today! | |
These free tutorials offer the perfect tonic to our free programming books series. | |
Linux Around The World showcases usergroups that are relevant to Linux enthusiasts. Great ways to meet up with fellow enthusiasts. | |
Stars and Stripes is an occasional series looking at the impact of Linux in the USA. |