Privacy Policy
How Sachess handles local analysis, Photo-FEN uploads, multiplayer rooms, peer calls, and cloud-book requests.
Sachess requires no account and is designed to minimize data collection. This policy distinguishes features that stay in your browser from Photo-FEN uploads, multiplayer, peer calls, cloud-book, and hosting data that must be processed remotely.
Author: Sachess Editorial Team
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Updated: 2026-08-10
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Details
Local Processing and Browser Storage
Pikafish AI analysis runs locally in your browser. When you use Photo-FEN upload or paste, the selected image is sent to Sachess Worker for size/type validation and server-side inference; do not submit sensitive or identifying photos. Sachess does not require an account, email address, password, or payment information.
Sachess uses localStorage for settings such as theme, language, application preferences, and saved game state. Multiplayer credentials use sessionStorage. A service worker caches public application assets for performance and offline use.
- Pikafish analysis remains on the device; Photo-FEN recognition is a remote Worker-assisted feature.
- Browser storage can be cleared through your browser settings.
- Service-worker caches contain public site and engine assets, not account records.
Photo-FEN Image Processing and Peer Calls
Photo-FEN uploads and pasted images are sent to Sachess Worker for validation and inference. The image is processed to return a board/FEN result; Sachess does not expose it as a public asset or require an account. Avoid uploading photos containing people, documents, or other sensitive information.
Audio/video calls request the microphone only when you choose to join a call, and the camera stays off until you enable video. Media is exchanged peer-to-peer when possible; the room service carries signaling and room state, not the call media. The current free configuration uses Cloudflare and Google STUN discovery without a TURN relay, so restrictive networks may fail and ICE can reveal network information to the peer. Calls are not recorded or stored by Sachess.
- Photo-FEN sends the selected image to Sachess Worker for processing.
- Microphone and camera are opt-in; camera starts disabled.
- Peer calls may expose network information and may fail on restrictive networks.
- Sachess does not record or store peer-call media.
Multiplayer Rooms and Cloud Book
When you create or join a multiplayer room, Cloudflare Workers and a room Durable Object process the room code, player credential, settings, FEN, move history, clocks, chat messages, draw or rematch state, and result until the room is cleaned up under the room-expiry rules. Anyone holding a valid room link or credential may be able to access that room, so do not place sensitive information in chat.
Cloudflare processes ordinary network information needed to deliver and protect the service. For room-creation abuse prevention, Sachess converts the connecting IP address to a one-way hash and temporarily stores creation timestamps, waiting-room reservations, cooldowns, and abuse blocks in a Durable Object. Frequent creators may be asked to complete Cloudflare Turnstile; the verification token is checked by the Worker and is not used as a player profile. If you open the cloud-book feature, the current FEN is sent to the ChessDB service to retrieve moves.
- Multiplayer positions, moves, timers, and chat are server-processed temporarily.
- Room credentials are stored in sessionStorage and should be treated as private links.
- ChessDB receives a FEN only when you use cloud-book lookup.
Service Providers and Your Choices
Cloudflare hosts and protects Sachess and provides the room/STUN infrastructure. Google may provide STUN discovery. ChessDB provides cloud-book results only when requested. These providers process data under their own terms and privacy policies.
You may clear site data in your browser, avoid multiplayer chat, and choose not to use cloud-book lookup.
- Sachess does not sell personal information.
- Clearing browser site data removes local preferences, cached assets, and saved session credentials.
FAQ
Does Sachess require registration?No. Sachess does not require an account, email address, password, or payment information.
Is game data uploaded?Local Pikafish analysis stays on your device. Photo-FEN sends the selected image to Sachess Worker for processing. Multiplayer room state and signaling are temporarily processed by Cloudflare, peer-call media is exchanged directly when possible, and cloud-book lookup sends the current FEN to ChessDB when requested.
Does Sachess use my microphone or camera?Only if you choose to join an audio/video call. Microphone access is requested when joining; camera access remains off until you enable video. Calls may fail on restrictive networks and are not recorded by Sachess.
Does Sachess use cookies?Sachess uses browser storage for preferences and sessions.
Which third parties process data?Cloudflare provides hosting, room infrastructure, and STUN discovery; Google may provide STUN discovery; Sachess Worker processes Photo-FEN uploads; ChessDB receives FEN positions only for requested cloud-book lookups.
