How do I configure the Stockfish binary path?

Set the `CHESSPAL_ENGINE_PATH` environment variable to point to your Stockfish executable. If unset, the server uses fallback environment variables (`CHESSPAL_ENGINE_NAME`, `CHESSPAL_ENGINE_VERSION`, `CHESSPAL_ENGINE_OS`, `CHESSPAL_ENGINE_BINARY`) to locate the binary in a predefined `engines/` directory structure.

What transports does ChessPal Chess Engine support?

It supports both SSE (Server-Sent Events) over HTTP (default, on 127.0.0.1:9000) and stdio (standard input/output) transports for MCP client communication.

What credentials does it need?

It reads `CHESSPAL_ENGINE_NAME`, `CHESSPAL_ENGINE_VERSION`, `CHESSPAL_ENGINE_OS`, `CHESSPAL_ENGINE_BINARY`, `CHESSPAL_ENGINE_PATH`, `PYPI_TOKEN` from the environment. Store these in your client's env block or a secrets manager — never commit them to a repository — and grant the narrowest scope that still covers your use case.

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ChessPal Chess Engine MCP Server

A chess engine MCP server powered by Stockfish

Local serverstdioPython

What is the ChessPal Chess Engine MCP Server?

A chess engine MCP server powered by Stockfish

The short version

A Stockfish-powered chess engine exposed as an MCP server using FastMCP. Calculates best moves via MCP tools accessible over SSE (default) or stdio transports using an MCP client library. Part of the ChessPal project.

Robust Stockfish engine integration with proper process management
Exposes engine functionality via the Model Context Protocol (MCP) using FastMCP
Supports both SSE and stdio MCP transports for client interaction
UCI protocol implementation for chess move generation
Comprehensive test suite with TDD approach
Error handling and recovery mechanisms

What it needs from you

Python 3.10 or higher - Poetry for dependency management (install from Poetry's documentation) - Stockfish chess engine binary (version 17.1 recommended)

More MCP options

Compare MCP servers by category, or browse hosted MCP servers if you prefer an endpoint over a local process.

Maintainer setup documentation.

Recorded tools

Check the linked publisher documentation and your connected client's tool list. Names and availability can vary with the server version and account permissions.

Tool	What it does
get_best_move_tool	Get the best move for a given chess position
validate_move_tool	Validate if a move is legal in a given position
get_legal_moves_tool	Get all legal moves in a given position
get_game_status_tool	Get the current game status (in progress, checkmate, etc.)

How to install the ChessPal Chess Engine MCP Server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dylangames-mcp-chess-engine": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["chesspal-mcp-engine"],
      "env": {
        "CHESSPAL_ENGINE_NAME": "your-value",
        "CHESSPAL_ENGINE_VERSION": "your-value",
        "CHESSPAL_ENGINE_OS": "your-value",
        "CHESSPAL_ENGINE_BINARY": "your-value",
        "CHESSPAL_ENGINE_PATH": "your-value",
        "PYPI_TOKEN": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

Python 3.10 or higher - Poetry for dependency management (install from Poetry's documentation) - Stockfish chess engine binary (version 17.1 recommended)

Variable	Description	Required
CHESSPAL_ENGINE_NAME	Configuration value read at startup.	Optional
CHESSPAL_ENGINE_VERSION	Configuration value read at startup.	Optional
CHESSPAL_ENGINE_OS	Configuration value read at startup.	Optional
CHESSPAL_ENGINE_BINARY	Configuration value read at startup.	Optional
CHESSPAL_ENGINE_PATH	Filesystem location the server is allowed to use.	Optional
PYPI_TOKEN	Credential the server authenticates with.	Yes

Example prompts to try

“Use ChessPal Chess Engine to get best move tool.”
“Use ChessPal Chess Engine to validate move tool.”
“Use ChessPal Chess Engine to get legal moves tool.”

Frequently asked questions

Python 3.10 or higher, Poetry for dependency management, and a Stockfish chess engine binary (version 17.1 recommended).

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