Lichess — Opening explorer

Search & DiscoverySee it livelichess.org

An opening explorer uses small chessboards as previews in a searchable catalog.

Lichess — Opening explorer — captured interface — Viewport capture · opening screen

Source capture · 2026-09-04Open full image ↗

Search & discovery

Why this pattern works

Use a visual preview of the actual content when names alone are hard to distinguish.

Design notes

Surface: Opening explorer
Navigation: The global chess navigation stays above the opening search; each board acts as a local entry point.
Layout: Search and filters lead into a grid of board positions with short opening names and move labels.
Density: Primary content has the most space; repeated rows and secondary navigation use a compact, consistent rhythm.
Color: Warm chessboard squares, pale surrounding surfaces, and blue selection accents.
Type: Keep board thumbnails equally sized and place short names consistently above them.
Pattern: Use a visual preview of the actual content when names alone are hard to distinguish.
States: Public opening catalog with standard opening positions.
Don't: Adapt the interaction pattern to your own product. Do not copy brand assets, sample identities, proprietary text, or assume unseen states. Specify keyboard behavior, loading, empty, error, and narrow-screen layouts for your implementation.

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Prompt text

# My project
[Describe the product, audience, and screen you want to improve]

Stack: Use the existing project stack
Task: Implement the interface and verify the result in the existing project.

## Tool guidance (Any AI tool)
Use available project tools to inspect, implement, and test. State any unavailable capabilities.

# Design reference: Lichess — Opening explorer
Source: https://lichess.org/opening
Swipefile reference: https://swipefile.design/ref/chess-openings/
Captured: 2026-09-04. This is a dated reference, not a claim about the current live product.
Capture scope: one viewport. Do not infer unseen page sections or a complete user flow.

## Objective
Adapt the interaction and layout patterns below to my project. Use my own content and identity. Do not reproduce logos, proprietary copy, or brand assets.

## Reference notes
- surface: Opening explorer
- nav: The global chess navigation stays above the opening search; each board acts as a local entry point.
- layout: Search and filters lead into a grid of board positions with short opening names and move labels.
- density: Primary content has the most space; repeated rows and secondary navigation use a compact, consistent rhythm.
- color: Warm chessboard squares, pale surrounding surfaces, and blue selection accents.
- typography: Keep board thumbnails equally sized and place short names consistently above them.
- pattern: Use a visual preview of the actual content when names alone are hard to distinguish.
- states: Public opening catalog with standard opening positions.
- dont: Adapt the interaction pattern to your own product. Do not copy brand assets, sample identities, proprietary text, or assume unseen states. Specify keyboard behavior, loading, empty, error, and narrow-screen layouts for your implementation.

Useful for: Use a visual preview of the actual content when names alone are hard to distinguish.

## Acceptance criteria
- Existing project conventions, design tokens, working functionality, and unrelated changes are preserved.
- Two or three reference principles clearly support the user's task; conflicts are resolved in favor of usability and the existing product.
- Reusable components and semantic HTML express the interface. Available licensed assets are used; important UI text is never rendered as a bitmap.
- Every visible control has a defined behavior. Loading, empty, error, success, disabled, and long-content states are specified where relevant. Demo data is clearly labeled.
- Navigation and content adapt at 375px, 768px, and 1440px without horizontal page overflow. Keyboard use, visible focus, labeled inputs, at least 44px touch targets, readable contrast, and reduced motion are supported.
- Verification distinguishes rendered behavior from proposals and identifies anything still requiring a backend or external service.

## Quality bar
Clear hierarchy, consistent spacing, restrained surfaces, and purposeful motion. Avoid decorative gradients, excessive cards, placeholder buttons, and invented metrics unless the project calls for them. Do not claim a feature is connected or tested without evidence.

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## Objective
Adapt the interaction and layout patterns below to my project. Use my own content and identity. Do not reproduce logos, proprietary copy, or brand assets.

Useful for: Use a visual preview of the actual content when names alone are hard to distinguish.

Lichess — Opening explorer

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