BetterChess

Chess MCP for Claude: engine analysis, attack maps, game review.

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What it can do

    What data it sees

    Do you need an account

    No: the server works without sign-in

    Chess MCP for Claude: engine analysis, attack maps, game review. One URL, no install.

    How to connect

    How to connect BetterChess to Claude

    The server address to paste into Claude settings:

    https://mcp.betterchess.co

    1. Open Claude (claude.ai or the desktop app).
    2. Go to Settings → Connectors.
    3. Click Add custom connector.
    4. Paste the server address copied below into Remote MCP server URL and click Add.
    5. In a chat, click + → Connectors and switch the new connector on.

    Custom connectors are available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans (Free is limited to one). On Team and Enterprise an organization Owner adds the connector first under Organization settings → Connectors.

    Authorization

    After you click Add, a sign-in window for the service opens. Sign in with your own account and approve access. Claude never sees your password.

    How to connect BetterChess to ChatGPT

    The server address to paste into ChatGPT settings:

    https://mcp.betterchess.co

    1. Open ChatGPT in a browser (chatgpt.com). A Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise or Edu plan is required.
    2. Turn on developer mode once: Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → Developer mode.
    3. Open Settings → Connectors and click Create.
    4. Fill in the form: Name (anything), Description (one line about what the service does), MCP server URL (copy it below).
    5. Under Authentication choose OAuth if the service requires sign-in, otherwise None. Click Create.
    6. In a new chat open + → Apps/Connectors and enable the connector.

    OpenAI has renamed this section before (Connectors → Apps/Plugins). If the label differs, search settings for "developer mode". On Business/Enterprise workspaces an admin must allow custom connectors first.

    Authorization

    On first use ChatGPT opens the service's sign-in window. Sign in and approve access.

    How to connect BetterChess to Cursor

    The server address to paste into Cursor settings:

    https://mcp.betterchess.co

    Fastest: click Open in Cursor below and confirm the prompt.

    Manually:

    1. In Cursor open Settings → Cursor Settings → MCP and click Add new global MCP server.
    2. Paste the JSON copied below into ~/.cursor/mcp.json (per project: .cursor/mcp.json in the repo root).
    3. Save the file. The server appears in the MCP list; authorize it there if asked.

    Authorization

    If the service needs sign-in, an authorize button appears next to the server in the MCP list.

    Server tool list (4)

    Raw names from tools/list. Only developers need these.

    chess_analyseReturns an engine evaluation of a chess position: the strongest candidate moves with their scores, and the position's checkable facts — side to move, whether that side is in check, undefended pieces and the pieces attacking them, and the material balance. Accepts a FEN, a PGN, or a list of SAN moves from the starting position. Also reports what the OPPONENT would play if it were their turn, which is the difference between a position being quiet and merely looking quiet. Pass `considering` with a move you are thinking of playing and it returns what that move actually walks into — a losing move is usually not in the top candidates, so asking about it directly is the only way to find out.
    chess_attacksReturns the exact list of squares attacked by the piece standing on a given square in a chess position, together with that piece's type and colour. Returns an empty list when the square is unoccupied. Accepts a FEN, a PGN, or a list of SAN moves from the starting position.
    chess_rigReturns the JavaScript source of the in-page coaching rig for a chess.com bot game, to be run in that page by the browser's javascript tool. Once running, the page exposes window.__coachWait(ms) (resolves with events and board status), window.__coachWatch.status() (moves, fen, turn, myTurn, result) and window.__coach (beginDraw, play, dashed, label, step, say) for drawing on the board. Also returns the rig version and the URL of the chess.com bot surface.
    chess_reviewReplays a finished game ply by ply with the engine and returns the moves where the evaluation swung by more than a threshold (default 1.5 pawns). Each entry gives the move number, the side that moved, the move played, the engine's preferred move, the size of the swing in pawns, the evaluation before and after, and the FEN of the resulting position. Accepts a PGN or a list of SAN moves, and can be filtered to one colour. Long games are truncated at 60 plies.