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I started playing chess a month ago and sometimes I would like to play a hard computer from a particular position (e.g., practicing not blundering in openings, or practice winning a won endgame position). However, it doesn't seem like there is a way on the Chess.com app to load a PGN and play against a particular bot. Obviously if I start a game against a 3200 bot then I won't be able to reach the part of the game I want to practice in.

Is there a way to do what I describe in Chess.com or perhaps another website/app?

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  • Schmidt, there is a better answer that does not require switching websites. Check it out.
    – fartgeek
    Dec 23, 2020 at 18:01
  • @fartgeek I did see that one, however I use the Chess.com mobile app, so both answers require me to go to a website. Dec 23, 2020 at 18:02
  • And I think I like Lichess better now that I found out about it. Dec 23, 2020 at 18:03
  • mmmmmm yes the lichess website is objectively better than the chess.com app, but the chess.com website is better than lichess (having played on all three for significant periods of time, I can say that...)
    – fartgeek
    Dec 23, 2020 at 18:05

3 Answers 3

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You can do this via Lichess:

  1. Visit lichess and optionally create an account if you haven't done so.
  2. Click Play with the computer.
  3. Select "From Position" in the Variant field.
  4. Insert the position FEN you want to play with the computer.
  5. Choose a time control.
  6. Choose the computer level. See this discussion for more info on what those mean.
  7. Select a colour (White, Black or random).

Good luck!

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  • 1
    Lichess is really cool, I figured out I can also enable Stockfish in the analysis board right in the browser. Thanks! Dec 23, 2020 at 7:56
  • 1
    @TankorSmash I don't think they are either, but in my question I said "or perhaps another website/app". Dec 26, 2020 at 21:26
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You can also do this on chess.com.

  1. Go to the "Learn" Tab
  2. Click on "Analysis"
  3. Setup your position via FEN or just by placing pieces
  4. Click "Finish vs Computer"
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  • This is a nice answer. If you add a comment and give analysis, it will probably beat the other one later. I am upvoting now, in hope of improvement.
    – Bit Chaser
    Dec 23, 2020 at 17:47
  • Nice! Since I use the mobile app either Chess.com or Lichess.org both require me to go to a website but thank you for showing me how to do this on Chess.com! Dec 23, 2020 at 18:05
  • @BitChaser Tried my best to improve it. Let me know if this is what you wanted. Dec 23, 2020 at 19:04
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Yes, you can do this in the chess.com app (or at least you could in a previous version.)

Tap the "Computer" menu button.

When it shows the starting options, tap "Position". (This is the bottom option; you may need to scroll down to see it.)

It gives you a list of choices. Tap "Custom Setup".

You can now set up the position as you like. Drag pieces around, add new ones from the bottom, or tap one to get rid of it. You can reset or clear the board from the menu icon. Tap the checkmark to finish setting up the position.

Set whatever other options you like, and start the game.

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  • Hmm, I don't see "Position" as an option after selecting "Custom". Perhaps it's because I'm on Android and you're on an iPhone? Dec 23, 2020 at 22:03
  • You mean after selecting "Computer"? It's right below "Show Blunders". Like I said, you may have to scroll to see it.
    – D M
    Dec 23, 2020 at 22:39
  • Hmm, mine seems different, first, it's "Play Computer" on the main menu, but there is no "Show Blunders" option. Let me try to link to a couple screenshots. Dec 23, 2020 at 22:41
  • imgur.com/a/65AIVsR Dec 23, 2020 at 22:46
  • That's certainly different from what I'm seeing. My version is v3.8.6-19706.
    – D M
    Dec 24, 2020 at 0:00

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