Tampermonkey Chess — Script

Before you start, ensure you have Tampermonkey installed in your browser. Then, you can create a new script by clicking on the Tampermonkey icon in your browser toolbar, selecting "Create a new script," and then pasting the following code into the editor:

// ==UserScript==
// @name         Chess Script
// @namespace    http://tampermonkey.net/
// @version      0.1
// @description  Try to take over the world!
// @author       Your Name
// @match        https://www.chess.com/*
// @grant        none
// ==/UserScript==
(function() 
    'use strict';
    document.body.appendChild(document.createElement('div')).innerHTML = 'Tampermonkey script injected!';
)();

This script does the following:

• The metadata block (// ==UserScript== to // ==/UserScript==) provides information about the script to Tampermonkey.

  • @name and @namespace help identify the script.
  • @version and @description give version information and a brief description.
  • @author specifies who wrote the script.
  • @match indicates on which pages the script should run. In this case, it's set to run on all Chess.com pages.
  • @grant specifies if the script should have any special privileges. Here, it's set to none.

• The script itself is an immediately invoked function expression (IIFE) to encapsulate its variables and functions, ensuring they don't pollute the global namespace.

• Inside the IIFE, it appends a <div> to the body of the webpage, displaying a message.

More Complex Scripts:

For more complex interactions, like analyzing chess positions or suggesting moves, you would likely:

1. Inspect the Website: Use the browser's developer tools to inspect how the chessboard is represented in the DOM and if there are any existing APIs for move analysis.

2. Inject Libraries or Code: Depending on the complexity, you might want to inject libraries (like chess.js for working with chess logic) into the page.

3. Observe and Modify: Use MutationObserver or event listeners to observe changes to the board or pieces and modify the game state accordingly.

Keep in mind that interacting with websites in such a way can be against the terms of service of some platforms. Always ensure you're not violating any rules.

Creating advanced scripts requires a good understanding of both JavaScript and the specific website's structure and APIs.

Tampermonkey chess scripts are powerful tools that allow players to customize and enhance their experience on popular platforms like Chess.com and Lichess. By using the Tampermonkey browser extension, players can run custom JavaScript "userscripts" that modify the functionality and appearance of these websites.

While some scripts are designed for purely aesthetic or utility purposes, others fall into a gray area or are strictly prohibited. Below is a comprehensive look at how these scripts work, what they offer, and the risks involved. What is a Tampermonkey Chess Script?

Tampermonkey is a popular userscript manager available for browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. A "chess script" is a small program that lives within this manager and executes only when you visit a specific chess site.

These scripts can "see" what is happening on your screen—such as the position of the pieces or the time on the clock—and then interact with the page to change its layout, add new buttons, or even suggest moves. Common Types of Chess Scripts

Userscripts for chess generally fall into three main categories: 1. UI & Visual Customization

These are typically allowed by most platforms as they don't provide a competitive advantage.

Custom Board & Pieces: Change the look of your board or pieces to styles not natively offered by the site.

Move Labels: Add coordinate labels directly onto the squares for better visualization.

Streamer Overlays: Hide your rating or sensitive information while broadcasting to avoid "stream sniping." 2. Workflow & Productivity Tools

These scripts streamline how you study or interact with the site without playing the game for you.

Analysis Integration: Add buttons to quickly export a game from Chess.com to the Lichess Analysis Board.

PGN Utilities: Re-enable right-clicking or text selection on sites that restrict it, making it easier to copy move lists for study.

Advanced Keybinds: Create custom shortcuts to resign, draw, or navigate puzzles faster. 3. Assistance & "Bots" (Strictly Prohibited)

These scripts are highly controversial and will likely result in a permanent ban.

To develop a feature for a Tampermonkey chess script, you first need to identify whether you want to focus on visual UI enhancements or functional game utilities . Most chess-related userscripts target popular platforms like Chess.com and Lichess.org . Feature Concept: "Dynamic Threat Overlay"

A popular and educational feature idea is a Dynamic Threat Overlay. This highlights squares currently under attack or defended by a selected piece to help with board awareness . 1. Core Logic Overview

Target Sites: Use @match for *://*.chess.com/* or *://*.lichess.org/* . tampermonkey chess script

Piece Detection: Locate piece elements using CSS selectors like .piece on Chess.com or piece tags on Lichess .

Move Validation: Integrate a lightweight library like Chess.js to calculate valid moves and threats based on the current FEN (Board State) . 2. Implementation Steps Tampermonkey script help. Want bigger clock - Lichess.org

To get started, you need a userscript manager like Tampermonkey (available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge). Install the extension from your browser's store. Find a script on a site like GreasyFork or GitHub.

Click "Install"; Tampermonkey will automatically detect the code.

Visit the chess site (e.g., Chess.com or Lichess), and the script will run in the background. ♟️ Common Script Categories

Most scripts focus on enhancing the experience or adding utility that the native sites don't provide: UI Customization:

Board Centering: Fixes layouts where the board is offset to one side.

Custom Themes: Replaces standard piece images with custom designs or 8-bit styles.

Spectator Control: Hides user lists or chat windows to reduce distraction during high-stakes games. Analysis Tools:

Dual Bubbles: Allows users to see both the "Move Played" and "Best Move" markers simultaneously in Chess.com reviews.

Engine Integration: Some scripts help export moves directly to a local engine or tutorial engine for deeper study. Utility & Accessibility:

Keyboard Controls: Re-enables keyboard shortcuts for sites that have removed or limited them.

Game Exporters: Simplifies downloading your game history for offline archiving. ⚠️ Important Risks & Ethics

Using scripts can be a double-edged sword, especially on competitive platforms. sayfpack13/chess-analysis-bot - GitHub

. Using the wrong one is the fastest way to get a permanent ban. Category 1: Quality of Life (Safe-ish)

These scripts focus on the interface and generally don't violate fair play rules as long as they don't help you play. Common Features: External Analysis: Adding buttons to quickly export games to for free analysis. UI Tweaks:

Dark modes, custom piece sets, or moving the clock to a more readable position. Square Labels: Adding coordinates directly onto the board squares. The Verdict:

These are useful for power users. However, even "cosmetic" scripts can occasionally trigger automated anti-cheat systems if they interfere with how the site expects you to interact with the board. Category 2: The "Assistants" (Dangerous) These scripts sit in a "gray area" that is usually just in the eyes of major platforms. Chess Stack Exchange User scripts for chess.com - Greasy Fork

Here’s a structured guide for creating a Tampermonkey chess script — from understanding what it can do, to writing your first script, and staying within fair play guidelines.

Option 2: The "Social Media/Short Form" Approach (Best for Twitter/X or Instagram)

This is punchy, uses emojis, and gets straight to the point.

Post: 🛠️ Playing with Tampermonkey & Chess.com

Just finished a deep dive into userscripts! I wrote a simple Tampermonkey script to visualize engine lines directly on the board.

It’s wild how much control you have over a webpage once you inject a script. ✅ DOM manipulation ✅ External library injection ✅ Real-time UI overlay

⚠️ Disclaimer: I built this strictly for educational purposes to understand how browser extensions interact with complex web apps. I do not condone using scripts to cheat in rated games—play fair!

#WebDev #JavaScript #Chess #Tampermonkey #Coding

2. Core Architecture

// ==UserScript==
// @name         Chess Bot Helper
// @namespace    http://tampermonkey.net/
// @version      1.0
// @description  Injects chess analysis into DOM
// @author       You
// @match        https://www.chess.com/*
// @match        https://lichess.org/*
// @grant        GM_xmlhttpRequest
// @grant        unsafeWindow
// @connect      localhost
// @connect      stockfish.lichess.org
// ==/UserScript==
(function() 
'use strict';
// main logic here
)();

4. Game Integrity Flags

Some platforms serve decoy “honeypot” positions—trap positions where the only winning move is unnatural for humans. If your script finds it every time, you’re flagged instantly. Before you start, ensure you have Tampermonkey installed

Option 3: The "Coding Tutorial" Approach (Best for Reddit or Dev.to)

This provides actual value/structure for someone looking to code their own.

Title: [Tutorial] How to write your first Tampermonkey Script for Chess

Ever wanted to customize your chess experience? Here is the skeleton of a Tampermonkey script that highlights the center squares on any chess board.

Step 1: The Metadata You need to define where the script runs.

// ==UserScript==
// @name         Center Squares Highlighter
// @namespace    http://tampermonkey.net/
// @version      0.1
// @description  Highlights e4, d4, e5, d5
// @match        *://*.chess.com/*
// @grant        none
// ==/UserScript==

Step 2: The Injection We need a function that waits for the board to load before running.

(function() 
    'use strict';
// Simple helper to wait for an element
const waitForElement = (selector) => 
    return new Promise(resolve => 
        if (document.querySelector(selector)) 
            return resolve(document.querySelector(selector));
const observer = new MutationObserver(() => 
            if (document.querySelector(selector)) 
                resolve(document.querySelector(selector));
                observer.disconnect();
);
        observer.observe(document.body,  childList: true, subtree: true );
    );
;
waitForElement('cg-board').then((board) => 
    console.log("Board found! Injecting overlay...");
    // Add your custom CSS or logic here
    const overlay = document.createElement('div');
    overlay.style.position = 'absolute';
    overlay.style.top = '0';
    overlay.style.left = '0';
    overlay.style.width = '100%';
    overlay.style.height = '100%';
    overlay.style.pointerEvents = 'none'; // Let clicks pass through
    overlay.style.backgroundColor = 'rgba(255, 255, 0, 0.2)'; // Yellow tint
    board.appendChild(overlay);
);

)();

Step 3: Play! Save this in Tampermonkey, reload the page, and watch the board light up. From here, you can expand by adding chess.js logic to calculate moves.

Happy coding! ♟️👨‍💻

Note on Policy: If you are posting about this, be aware that chess platforms (like Chess.com and Lichess) have strict Terms of Service. Using scripts that provide engine assistance in rated games can lead to account bans. It is best to frame your post around educational development and analysis modes rather than competitive advantage.

Tampermonkey chess scripts are powerful JavaScript-based tools that allow players to customize their experience on platforms like Chess.com and Lichess.org. Managed through the Tampermonkey browser extension, these "userscripts" can range from harmless visual tweaks to controversial automated engine assistants. Popular Types of Chess Scripts

Users typically search for scripts that fall into three main categories: Is this user script allowed? (I made) - Chess Forums

Tampermonkey chess script is a custom JavaScript snippet designed to modify the interface or functionality of online chess platforms like Chess.com or Lichess. These scripts run via the Tampermonkey browser extension, allowing users to inject code directly into their browser to change how a site looks or behaves.

While some scripts are used for harmless UI tweaks, others cross into cheating territory, which can lead to permanent account bans. Common Uses of Chess Scripts

Tampermonkey scripts for chess generally fall into three categories: Interface Customization

: Changing piece sets, board themes, or adding coordinates that aren't available in the standard settings. Analysis & Statistics

: Adding "Guess the Move" features, displaying advanced Elo win-probability graphs, or integrating external engine analysis for post-game review. Automation (Botting)

: Highlighting the "best move" on the board during a live game or automatically moving pieces based on engine suggestions. Popular Script Features Custom Board Themes

: Allows users to use high-resolution textures or classic wood grains not offered by the platform. Move Announcers

: Uses text-to-speech to call out moves, helping visually impaired players or those practicing blindfolded chess. Keyboard Shortcuts

: Adds custom hotkeys for offering draws, resigning, or toggling coordinates quickly. ⚠️ Fair Play & Security Risks

Using Tampermonkey scripts carries significant risks that every user should consider: Account Bans : Major platforms like

have sophisticated "cheat detection" systems. Any script that assists with move selection (even subtly, like highlighting a hanging piece) is a violation of Fair Play policies and usually results in a permanent ban. Malicious Code

: Since these scripts are often hosted on open repositories like GreasyFork or GitHub, they can contain "malware". A poorly vetted script could steal your login cookies or track your browsing data. Site Stability

: Because these scripts "hook" into the website's internal code, site updates often break the scripts, leading to lag, visual glitches, or game crashes during critical moments. How to Use (Safely) If you intend to use a script for visual themes only Install the Tampermonkey extension for your browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge). Find a reputable script on GreasyFork Click "Install" and ensure the script's rules only apply to the specific chess site. Test in "Unrated" or "Bot" games first

to ensure it doesn't trigger any unintended automated behavior. specific type of script , such as a custom theme or a tool for post-game analysis?

Tampermonkey is a popular browser extension used to run "userscripts" that modify web pages, including sites like Lichess.org

. These scripts can range from UI enhancements to advanced move analysis. 1. Getting Started: How to Install Scripts To use any chess-related script, you first need the Tampermonkey This script does the following:

extension installed on your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari). Install the Extension : Download it from the Official Tampermonkey Website or your browser's extension store. Find a Script : Popular sources for chess scripts include Greasy Fork and GitHub. Installation Steps Open the script page on a site like Greasy Fork "Install this script" A Tampermonkey tab will open; click to confirm.

Alternatively, you can manually create a script by clicking the Tampermonkey icon in your toolbar, selecting "Create a new script..." , and pasting the code directly. 2. Common Types of Chess Scripts

Scripts are generally used for quality-of-life improvements or gameplay assistance: UI Enhancements Custom Pieces

: Change the standard chess pieces to any image of your choice on Layout Improvements

: View both "Move Played" and "Best Move" bubbles simultaneously during game reviews. Convenience Tools Quick Links : Add custom time control links to your dashboard to save clicks when starting new games. Functional Fixes

: Re-enable right-click or copy/paste functionality on restricted chess study sites. Analysis & Assistance Move Highlighting : Scripts like Chess Helper

search for possible moves and highlight them based on whether they capture or protect pieces. Advanced Assistants : Tools like

(Advanced Chess Assistance System) provide real-time move analysis and strategy. 3. Important Warnings Anti-Cheat & Bans

: Using scripts that suggest moves, highlight "best moves," or automate play is a violation of the Fair Play policies

on major platforms. These sites have sophisticated detection methods, and using such scripts often results in a permanent account ban. Developer Mode

: For some newer versions of Tampermonkey on Chrome-based browsers, you may need to enable "Developer Mode"

in your browser's extension settings for scripts to run properly. Lichess.org

Tampermonkey scripts for chess are broadly divided into utility scripts (which improve the user interface) and assistance/bot scripts (which use engines to suggest moves) Popular Utility Scripts

These scripts are generally safer to use as they only change visual elements or add convenient links: A.C.A.S (Advanced Chess Assistance System)

: A highly-rated script that provides board analysis and move suggestions using a GUI. Chess Plus+

: Adds features like an "Auto Queue" to join new games faster and a "Lichess Analysis" button to quickly export Chess.com games to Lichess. Shadow Chess Pieces

: A cosmetic script that changes the visual style of the chess pieces with a "shadow" effect. Lichess Analysis for Chessgames.com

: Adds a one-click button to analyze historical games from Chessgames.com directly on Lichess. Assistance & "Bot" Scripts

Using scripts that calculate or play moves for you is considered cheating on platforms like Chess.com and Lichess. These accounts are usually banned quickly. US Chess Sales

This essay explores the technical and ethical implications of using Tampermonkey scripts within the digital chess landscape.

The Intersection of Customization and Competition: Tampermonkey Chess Scripts

In the realm of online gaming, few tools offer as much flexibility as Tampermonkey, a popular userscript manager that allows players to inject custom JavaScript into their browser sessions. When applied to platforms like Chess.com or Lichess, these "chess scripts" represent a double-edged sword, oscillating between harmless aesthetic enhancements and controversial competitive advantages.

On a functional level, Tampermonkey scripts act as an intermediary layer between the server’s data and the user’s interface. For many enthusiasts, scripts are a way to personalize their environment beyond the standard settings provided by the platform. Users often install scripts to change piece sets to more exotic designs, implement custom board colors, or add "quality of life" features like advanced move notation and timers. In this context, the script is a tool for accessibility and personalization, allowing the player to tailor their digital "study" to their exact preferences.

However, the conversation shifts dramatically when scripts move from aesthetic to assistive. The most notorious Tampermonkey chess scripts are those designed to interface with powerful engines like Stockfish. These scripts can overlay "best move" suggestions directly onto the board or highlight threats and hanging pieces in real-time. This effectively automates the calculation phase of the game, transforming a test of human intellect into a demonstration of script efficiency. Because these scripts run locally in the browser, they can sometimes bypass basic server-side detection, posing a constant challenge to the integrity of online competitive play.

The ethical debate surrounding these scripts is centered on the definition of "assistance." While most players agree that automated engine moves constitute cheating, the line becomes blurred with scripts that provide "eval bars" (showing which side is winning) or move-guessers. Major platforms have responded with sophisticated anti-cheat algorithms that analyze move consistency and browser behavior to flag suspicious activity. Consequently, the use of performance-enhancing scripts often leads to permanent bans, highlighting the high stakes involved in digital sportsmanship.

In conclusion, Tampermonkey chess scripts exemplify the tension between user agency and platform rules. While they empower users to create a more vibrant and personalized chess experience, they also provide a gateway for unfair advantages that threaten the core of the game. As browser-based gaming continues to evolve, the balance between allowing customization and ensuring a level playing field remains one of the most critical challenges for the online chess community.

Step 3: Install the Script

• Click on the script name.
• Read the description and source code (more on this below).
• Click the "Install" button.
• Tampermonkey will open a new tab showing the code. Click "Install" again.

Step 5 – Add user controls

Simple panel (HTML div) with buttons to enable/disable features.