Make an animated video of a chess game for Reels, Shorts, TikTok or YouTube. Pick one of your chessGM games, a chess.com game (by username or link) or paste a PGN. chessGM reviews the game first, then plays every move on the beat with a mark on each move (Brilliant, Best, Mistake, Blunder and more), or features only the key moments.
Choose the board, the pieces, the camera and the music: built-in tracks made by chessGM, your own song, or none. The video is made on your device and nothing is uploaded. Making videos is free.
How to make a game video
Source: pick one of your chessGM games, type a chess.com username to see recent games, paste a chess.com game link, or paste or upload a PGN.
Game: choose the game. It is reviewed first, because the move marks and the coach video need the review.
Style: choose the kind of video, the format, the look, the camera, the music and the extras.
Make: the video is drawn and encoded on your device as MP4 or WebM, ready to save and post.
Kinds of video
Coach review: the coach explains the game with voice, subtitles and arrows, for the key moments (about a minute) or all moments.
Full game: every move on the beat with a mark on each one, either all moves at about a second each or the key moves, with quiet moves played quickly.
Brilliant move showcase: a short puzzle from your game, then the Brilliant move and why it works. It needs a Brilliant move in the game.
Formats and style
Choose 9:16 for Reels, Shorts and TikTok, 16:9 for YouTube, or 1:1 for a square feed post. Pick any of the app's board themes and piece sets, and a camera: cinematic 3D that is always moving, follow the move, a steady board with gentle pans, or a fixed board. For music, use the built-in tracks made by chessGM, which are free to post anywhere, your own song (the beat is found for you) or no music at all. Extras include the eval bar, an accuracy card, big move text, an opening question to hook viewers and an end card.
Tips for a good video
For short-form video, pick a game with one clear turning point and use key moves rather than every move.
A full game is capped at about three minutes, so very long games are played faster.
Only use your own song if you have the right to post it; the built-in tracks avoid copyright claims.
Questions and answers
Is my game uploaded anywhere?
No. The video is made on your device and nothing is uploaded.
Does it cost anything?
On the website, making, previewing and saving a video is free. In the app, saving or sharing a video needs one short ad.
Can I hide my opponent's name?
Yes. The opponent's name is hidden unless you turn it on.
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