Import a chess puzzle from another site

You can bring a puzzle’s starting position into Ironwood in two ways: copy its FEN if the source offers one, or import a screenshot of its board. Ironwood does not import a puzzle by pasting a website URL. It also does not receive the source site’s solution or scoring rules; you are setting up the position to explore it yourself.

If the site provides a FEN

1. On the source site, look for Share, Export, Copy FEN, or a similar control. Copy the complete FEN line. A complete FEN has six space-separated parts, including whose turn it is.
2. In Ironwood, open Play → Self-play. Choose Starting position → Custom FEN.
3. Paste the FEN into the custom-position box. Ironwood should show Valid position. If it says Needs attention, check that you copied the full line and not just the piece-placement part.
4. Start the game. Play the puzzle move, then make the opponent’s replies yourself to explore the line. For an engine opponent instead, choose vs AI Engine before starting.

If you prefer to inspect or adjust the position first, click Edit board / Import screenshot in the New Game dialog, paste the FEN into the editor’s FEN box, and click Load FEN. After checking it, click Use in Ironwood to return to the New Game dialog.

If you have a screenshot

1. Save or copy an image that clearly shows the entire board. Crop closely around the 64 squares if possible; avoid clocks, move lists, borders, and other page details.
2. In Ironwood, open Play → Self-play → Starting position: Custom FEN → Edit board / Import screenshot.
3. Choose the image file, paste the image into the editor, or drop it onto the editor. Recognition runs locally on your device. Its model may need a first-use download.
4. Compare every square with the source image. Correct wrong or missing pieces using the palette. Orange outlines flag less-certain squares. Use Flip view if you only want to see the other side at the bottom; use Rotate position only if the imported pieces themselves are turned around.
5. Set Side to move from the puzzle prompt. Check castling rights and en passant availability if the puzzle depends on them. A screenshot cannot reveal these rules. If the source offers a FEN, use that instead for reliable position details. For an ordinary puzzle without those special rights, - is appropriate in those fields.
6. Click Use in Ironwood. Confirm Valid position in the New Game dialog, then start and try your move.

For more detail on placing pieces and the position fields, see Using the Position Editor. Ironwood checks whether the setup is a legal chess position, but it does not know which move the original puzzle author intended. You can use analysis to compare ideas after trying the puzzle.