Install PyChess on Nintendo Switch

PyChess

PyChess is a chess client for playing and analyzing chess games. It is intended to be usable both for those totally new to chess as well as advanced users who want to use a computer to further enhance their play.
When you get sick of playing computer players you can login to FICS (the Free Internet Chess Server) and play against people all over the world. PyChess has a built-in Timeseal client, so you won't lose clock time during a game due to lag. PyChess also has pre-move support, which means you can make (or start making) a move before your opponent has made their move.
PyChess has many other features including: - CECP and UCI chess engine support with customizable engine configurations - Polyglot opening book support - Hint and Spy move arrows.

To run: Menu -> Accessories -> pychess
To run in terminal: pychess

Fortunately, PyChess is very easy to install on your Nintendo Switch in just two steps.

  1. Install Pi-Apps - the best app installer for Nintendo Switch.
  2. Use Pi-Apps to install PyChess.

Compatibility

For the best chance of this working, we recommend using the latest version of Switchroot L4T Ubuntu Jammy, which is currently version 5.1.2 Ubuntu Jammy.
PyChess will run on L4T Ubuntu ARM64.

Install Pi-Apps

Pi-Apps is a free tool that makes it incredibly easy to install the most useful programs on your Nintendo Switch with just a few clicks.

Open a terminal and run this command to install Pi-Apps:

wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Botspot/pi-apps/master/install | bash

Feel free to check out the Pi-Apps source code here: https://github.com/Botspot/pi-apps

Install PyChess

Now that you have Pi-Apps installed, it is time to install PyChess.
First launch Pi-Apps from your start menu:

Then click on the Games category.

Now scroll down to find PyChess in the list.

Just click Install and Pi-Apps will install PyChess for you!

Pi-Apps is a free and open source tool made by Botspot and other contributors. Find out more at https://pi-apps.io