Coming from ChessBase?
FlexiChess runs in your browser — no install, works on any device. Your ChessBase databases need a one-time export to PGN, and then import works like any other PGN file. Here's how everything maps across, and what carries over.
Concept map
Same ideas, different names. Where to find each one in FlexiChess:
| ChessBase | FlexiChess | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Mega / Big Database (reference) | Public databases | Cloud + local reference databases |
| Personal database (.cbh) | Collection | Library → Collections (cloud or this device) |
| Database list window | Library | File → Load database… |
| Repertoire database | Repertoire | Repertoire panel + training |
| Opening Reference tab | Opening Analysis | Opening Analysis panel |
| Player dossier | Scout | Scout opponent panel |
| .cbh / .cbv / .cbz files | PGN only (export first) | See export steps below |
Bring your games over
Export to PGN
- Open each ChessBase database you want to move.
- Select all games (Ctrl+A) or the subset you need.
- Right-click → Output → "Save as PGN".
- In FlexiChess, Library → Upload PGN files.
Multiple databases? Export each .cbh to its own .pgn file. You can select several PGNs at once — FlexiChess queues them and processes each in turn.
No ChessBase license, or only .cbv / .cbz backups?
The free ChessBase Reader opens these files so you can view your games, but exporting a whole database to PGN still needs the full ChessBase program — for example on a club or a friend's computer.
Either way, once your games are in PGN, import is instant — no ChessBase license needed on the FlexiChess side.
What imports preserve
- Comments, variations, and standard symbols (NAGs) — yes, when present in the exported PGN.
- Header fields (players, event, Elo, date) — yes.
- ChessBase-only multimedia or proprietary symbols beyond PGN — not preserved; export to PGN first.
Current limits
- Native .cbh / .cbv / .cbz files are not read directly — export to PGN in ChessBase first.
- Very large imports may be recommended for cloud (sync + backup); small imports stay on this device.
- Variation-tree merge into repertoire is available after import — use Merge into repertoire from the board.