IRONWOOD CHESS

Changelog2026.09.26

Online play, live games, and position tools

FICS play and chat, ten simultaneous observation boards, Chess960, and positions from screenshots.

Added

  • Online play through the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS), with guest access and sign-in for existing accounts.
  • Available-game listings, unrated seeks with custom time and increment, direct player challenges, and incoming challenge controls.
  • Live server-controlled boards and clocks, with finished online games saved locally for later analysis.
  • Observation tabs for watching up to 10 FICS games simultaneously. Once a game finishes, run full-game analysis to review its moves and key moments.
  • Player and channel chat tabs alongside the FICS console, with unread counts and separate message drafts. Conversations remain available for the current session.
  • Random Chess960 starting positions and custom FEN positions for local play.
  • A visual position editor with piece placement, board rotation, and editable game-state details.
  • Screenshot import through upload, paste, or drag and drop. Recognition runs on the device and produces a position that can be checked and corrected before starting.

Improved

  • Larger, scrollable Available games and Observe a game menus with more room for player names and time controls.
  • The FICS console opens automatically on connection. Chat uses the same readable monospace font as the console, and server replies stay in the Console tab.
  • Online Controls sits beside Help in the main menu.
  • A new Ironwood knight logo across the website, About dialog, app icons, and favicons, with compressed images suited to each placement.
  • A redesigned home-page introduction and an expanded features page covering engine play, online play, spectating, chat, and position tools.

Local and online

Stockfish analysis and screenshot recognition run locally. FICS play, observation, and chat require a connection and exchange game activity and messages with the server. Chat permissions depend on the FICS account and channel. Review recognized pieces and position details before using an imported screenshot.