Plychess
Professional Chess Media Tool

Convert Chess PGN to GIF Online

Convert chess PGN files into animated GIFs online. Visualize games move by move and export GIFs for sharing or analysis with multiple themes and high-DPI support.

Animation Studio
Input your notation and customize styles
2 FPS
EducationalSocial Media
Cinematic Output
Pro Templates

The Best Tool for Chess Content Creators

In the era of short-form video, static chess boards are becoming a thing of the past. Our PGN to GIF converter is designed for grandmasters, streamers, and beginners who want to share their brilliancies with the world.

Unlike offline video editors, our browser-based renderer handles high-resolution piece sets and smooth frame transitions instantly. Whether you're making a 1-minute YouTube Short or a quick Twitter Thread, Plychess gives you the professional edge.

#chess#checkmate#chessgame#stockfish

Viral on X

GIFs auto-play in feeds. Post your puzzle of the day and watch the engagement skyrocket 4x vs static images.

Shorts Mastery

Easily create rapid-fire tactical combinations for YouTube Shorts or TikTok backgrounds.

Reels Ready

Beautiful high-contrast themes optimized for vertical viewing on mobile screens.

Universal Format

GIFs work everywhere. No codecs, no compatibility issues, just pure chess.

Pro-Level Customization Guide

Maximize your social media impact with these professional settings.

1

Optimize Framerate

Use 2-3 FPS for instructive game reviews where viewers need to follow the logic. Switch to 6-10 FPS for tactical "brilliancy" montages.

2

Perspective Shift

Always render from the "Side to Move" perspective. This helps your audience solve the board state like they are the player.

3

Clean & Analyze

Remove engine evaluations using our PGN Cleaner, then use our Free PGN Analysis to find the perfect cinematic moment for your GIF.

Common Questions

How do I download the GIF after generating?

Once the 'Your GIF is ready!' message appears, a 'Download' button will become active. You can also right-click the GIF and select 'Save Image As'.

Can I use these GIFs for my YouTube videos?

Absolutely. All GIFs generated on Plychess are free to use. Many creators use them as B-roll or instructional overlays in their chess lessons.

Is there a limit on the number of moves?

We recommend games under 100 moves for the best GIF quality. Very long games may result in large file sizes that are difficult for social media sites to process.

Why use GIF instead of MP4?

GIFs are the standard for 'infinite loops' on platforms like Twitter and Reddit. They auto-play without audio and are perfect for quick tactical flashes.