Frequently Asked Questions

KBchess is a browser extension that enables players to play chess entirely with the keyboard. Instead of dragging pieces with a mouse, players make moves by typing Home Row notation.

KBchess currently supports both Chess.com and Lichess.

Yes. KBchess is designed for players who can type without looking at the keyboard. While anyone can use the extension, touch typists will benefit the most from its speed and ergonomic advantages.

Each piece is assigned a dedicated key. Pressing that key automatically selects the corresponding piece, regardless of where it is located on the board.

Home Row notation is KBchess's keyboard-first way to identify chess squares using the home row keys: A, S, D, F, J, K, L, and ;. It replaces traditional file-and-rank coordinates like a1 or e4 with two home row keys, making moves faster and more ergonomic to type.

The files and ranks are both mapped to the home row keys from left to right. For example, a1 becomes AA, h8 becomes ;;, and e4 becomes JF.

Type the piece key followed by the Home Row notation for the destination square. For example, Nc3 is entered as SADD in KBchess's Home Row notation system.

No. KBchess shows Home Row notation labels on the board to help you learn. As you play, the labels become less necessary because the square positions develop into muscle memory.

Yes. You can set your own custom shortcuts for supported actions.

Yes. KBchess supports games against computer opponents on both Chess.com and Lichess.

Yes. KBchess supports online games against other players.

No. KBchess only changes how you interact with the board. All chess rules remain unchanged.

No. KBchess does not provide engine assistance, move suggestions, or analysis. It simply replaces mouse input with keyboard input.

Yes, KBchess does not make moves automatically or provide any chess assistance. It only changes the input method used to interact with the board.

Players who are proficient touch typists may find that KBchess reduces mouse movement and enables faster move execution, especially in blitz and bullet games.

Yes. KBchess supports premoves wherever premoves are supported by the underlying platform.

No. KBchess is designed around touch typing and muscle memory, allowing players to keep their eyes on the board.

KBchess is available as a browser extension for Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox. Support for additional browsers may be added in the future.

Yes. KBchess includes a free plan that supports Chess.com and Lichess, allowing playing with standard hotkey mappings.

Pro Shortcut Keys