ChessOpeningSmith
Build an opening repertoire you can actually remember
ChessOpeningSmith brings your opening choices, practice and game analysis into one browser workspace. Use it as a chess opening builder to organize your own lines, then as a trainer to recall them over the board. Start with a small repertoire that reflects how you want to play.
Create a free accountA personal repertoire, built around your decisions
Create a repertoire for White or Black and play moves on the board to build a tree. Keep your main continuation separate from useful alternatives. Add comments, annotations, arrows and circles to explain the position rather than storing a sequence of moves without a plan.
Already have opening notes in PGN? Import the lines, inspect the result and keep the branches you intend to play. Export PGN when you want a portable copy. The builder is an editor for your choices; it does not choose an opening system for you.
Train the lines you want to remember
Switch from reading your tree to recalling moves on the board. Train a selected line or work across repertoires, revisit mistakes and use spaced repetition to spread reviews over time. Short, regular sessions give you a way to check what you remember before adding more material.
The free Apprentice account includes two repertoires, up to 1,000 positions in total and one training session per repertoire per week. Master Smith expands the available capacity. Check the feature overview for the current limits before planning a large import.
Turn PGN games into opening work
Bring together your Lichess, Chess.com and OTB games. OTB means games played on a physical board, for example in a club or tournament. Review opening statistics, compare the moves you played with your preparation and identify one position worth revisiting.
Stockfish 19 runs locally in your browser. Analyze a position or a move sequence and examine candidate continuations before changing your repertoire. Engine evaluations depend on the position, search settings and time available; they are a tool for checking ideas, not an explanation of every plan.
Prepare for an opponent with Master Smith
For an upcoming game, examine the opponent’s games alongside general databases and your own OTB, Lichess or Chess.com games. Explore and annotate useful branches, then train the preparation or convert it into an opening repertoire. Opponent preparation requires Master Smith.
The application works on a responsive board on mobile and desktop, and its interface supports 46 languages. These editorial pages are available in French and English. A network connection is required; adding the site to your home screen is not a promise of offline access.
Questions before you start
Do I need to subscribe to start?
No. You can create a free Apprentice account without a payment card and work within its repertoire, position and training limits. Existing Master Smith members can sign in with the same account.
Does a chess opening repertoire builder supply a finished repertoire?
The builder helps you create, import and organize your own variations. Decide which lines suit you, check imported material and add explanations you understand.
What is encrypted?
Opening content is encrypted in your browser before storage. Account information and technical metadata are still processed by the service. See the security and licence page for the precise boundary.
