Coming from ChessBase?
You already know how to prepare — FlexiChess just removes the tax. The search box takes the question as you'd phrase it out loud, and it runs in your browser: nothing to install, on whatever machine is in front of you, including the Mac. 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) | FlexiBase | 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 | Analyze player | Analyze player 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, drop the file into FlexiChess and the games land in your library — nothing to install on the FlexiChess side.
What imports preserve
- Comments, variations, and annotations — 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.
- Imports go into your library and back up to your account automatically once you're signed in with a verified email; a collection larger than your plan's cloud cap stays on this device only.
- Variation-tree merge into repertoire is available after import — use Merge into repertoire from the board.
Trademarks of other products (including ChessBase) belong to their respective owners; FlexiChess is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.