---
name: "gnuchess"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gnuchess"
version: "6.3.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gnuchess"
---

# gnuchess(1)

GNU Chess

## NAME

Chess - GNU Chess

## SYNOPSIS

**gnuchess** \[*OPTION*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

GNU Chess

Play the game of chess.

## OPTIONS

- **-h**, **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **-v**, **--version**

  display version information and exit

- **-q**, **--quiet**

  make the program silent on startup

- **--silent**

  same as **-q**

- **-x**, **--xboard**

  start in engine mode

- **-p**, **--post**

  start up showing thinking

- **-e**, **--easy**

  disable thinking in opponents time

- **-m**, **--manual**

  enable manual mode

- **-u**, **--uci**

  enable UCI protocol (that is: behave like an UCI engine); incompatible with other options

- **-M** SIZE, **--memory**=*SIZE*

  specify memory usage in MB for hashtable

- **-a** FILENAME, **--addbook**=*FILENAME*

  compile book.bin from pgn book FILENAME

- **-g**, **--graphic**

  enable graphic mode

Options xboard and post are accepted without leading dashes for backward compatibility.

Moves are accepted either in standard algebraic notation (SAN) or in coordinate algebraic notation.

The file 'gnuchess.ini' allows setting configuration options, but it is ignored if the **--uci** option is used. See 'info gnuchess' for details about the options. The program will look for 'gnuchess.ini' in $XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/gnuchess/ and $HOME/.config/gnuchess/ in that order, and it will use the first one it finds, if any.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-gnu-chess@gnu.org\>.\
 GNU Chess home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/chess/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **Chess** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **Chess** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info gnuchess**

should give you access to the complete manual.