Steve Learns Chess

ChessImager makes it easy for you to add a chess board diagram to your blog or other web page. All you have to do is insert an image link with a special URL that contains the chess position information. The URL runs a script that generates the image for you dynamically. You no longer have to generate the diagram using chess software, save the diagram as an image, and upload the image to your site.

Here’s a simple example to get you started. This URL makes an image containing a simple tactics problem.

http://www.eddins.net/steve/chess/ChessImager/ChessImager.php?fen=
5N1k/6p1/7p/4P3/pp2Q3/4q3/1P4PP/2b4K/

(You should put the above URL on one line, with no spaces.) To include the dynamically generated image on your blog or web page, just put the URL above into an IMG tag, like this:

<img src="http://www.eddins.net/steve/chess/ChessImager/ChessImager.php?fen=
5N1k/6p1/7p/4P3/pp2Q3/4q3/1P4PP/2b4K/">

And here’s what the diagram looks like:

White to move and win

If you are familiar with the chess position notation (called Forsyth Edwards Notation, or FEN), then you should have enough information to make your own diagrams. If you’d like a brief explanation of FEN, then follow this link.

Additional information about ChessImager

• How to use the chess position notation (FEN)
• How to change the colors of the squares
• How to change the size of the squares
• How to change the border
• How to display square coordinates
• How to change the piece style
• How to reverse the board direction
• Report a bug or request an enhancement

Also take a look at the sub pages.

• ChessImager - Changing the square colors
• ChessImager - Changing the size of the squares
• ChessImager - Using FEN position notation
• ChessImager - Changing the border
• ChessImager - Displaying square coordinates
• ChessImager - Changing the style of the pieces
• ChessImager - Reversing the board direction