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Use a scoresheet for the moves and Checkmate IRL for the record. Its chess clock saves each result, keeps your history and head-to-head, and builds an offline rating when both players have accounts. To analyze a game afterwards, enter the moves from your scoresheet into the Lichess or Chess.com analysis board.
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You can track an over-the-board game with a paper scoresheet, a notes app or a chess clock that saves the game, such as Checkmate IRL. Each one keeps something different, so you can use 2 of them together.
An electronic board can also capture the moves. DGT says its smart boards store the game, which you can export as PGN through its free LiveChess software.
| Method | Keeps the moves | Keeps result and history | Rating | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper scoresheet | Yes, every move | Only on the sheet, if you keep it | No | Write each move during the game |
| Notes app or notebook | Only if you write them down | Yes, as long as you keep it up | No | Write or type each result by hand |
| Checkmate IRL | No | Yes: result, time control, date, move count, time used and head-to-head | Glicko-1, when both players have accounts | Play on its clock; your opponent joins first or confirms after |
| Lichess or Chess.com analysis board | Yes, once you paste them in | Lichess keeps imported games, publicly | No | Needs the moves from a scoresheet first |
Use a scoresheet when you want to study the moves, and Checkmate IRL when you want the result, the rating and the history to stick. The 2 don't overlap, so they work side by side.
A notes app covers results for a while. Checkmate IRL started there: its founder and his dad wrote their results in Apple Notes and kept losing them.
You need one in standard (classical) games played under FIDE rules, and you don't in rapid, blitz or casual games.
In a standard game, FIDE's Laws of Chess require each player to record both sides' moves on a paper scoresheet or a FIDE-certified electronic scoresheet. That player's duty pauses for the rest of a period once a player has under 5 minutes left and the increment is under 30 seconds.
In rapid (more than 10 and under 60 minutes each), players don't need to record the moves, and blitz (10 minutes or less) follows the rapid rules unless the competition says otherwise. A casual game has no scoresheet rule, so keep one only if you want the moves for later.
You play on the Checkmate IRL chess clock, and the result is saved when the game ends. You need an account to use the clock, which covers bullet to classical and custom time controls, with increment and simple delay.
Your opponent can join from their own account before the clock starts, or confirm the result after the game. Each game saves:
A game between 2 players who both have accounts is rated once it syncs, and it updates your offline chess rating. There's no rated or casual switch.
The clock and game saving work without internet, and the game syncs when your phone is back online. A game against a guest without an account is saved but not rated.
Your games are public on your profile, and each opponent with an account builds a head-to-head record with your wins, draws, losses and current streak. Checkmate IRL doesn't save the moves themselves, so a scoresheet is still the tool for those.
The app is free, with an optional Checkmate IRL Pro plan, and has no ads. How it works walks through the full flow.
Write the moves on a scoresheet, then enter them into the Lichess or Chess.com analysis board for a replay and computer analysis.
Imported games on Lichess are public, so use a Lichess study if you'd rather keep one private. Neither site rates a game you enter for analysis, and Chess.com also says games between players in the same location must be unrated.
Chess.com vs Lichess vs Checkmate IRL compares all 3 for in-person play. Looking for a board first? The venue map lists cafés, clubs and parks where people play.
Yes, Checkmate IRL records the result of each over-the-board game. It's a chess clock that saves the result, time control, date, move count and time used, and builds an offline rating when both players have accounts. For the moves themselves, use a scoresheet or an electronic board.
No. It saves the result, time control, date, move count, time used and an optional board photo. Keep a scoresheet if you want the moves.
For a rated game, yes: both players need an account. If your opponent doesn't have one, the game is saved as a guest game and isn't rated.
Your opponent either joins from their own account before the clock starts or confirms the result after the game. A game against a guest without an account is saved but not rated.
Yes. Each opponent with an account gets a head-to-head record with total games, wins, draws, losses and your current streak, plus the list of your games together.
Yes. The clock and game saving work offline, and the game syncs later. Your rating updates once it has synced.
Your games are public on your Checkmate IRL profile, so anyone who opens it can see them.
Usually not. FIDE's Laws of Chess forbid using a phone in the playing venue, and any other electronic device, such as a certified electronic scoresheet, needs the arbiter's approval.
Offline chess rating · Chess clock app · How it works · Chess.com vs Lichess vs Checkmate IRL · How to use a chess clock