Transferring In

The Repertoire Builder makes it easy to migrate from any platform. All you need is a PGN file — import it into your Builder, and you’re ready to go.

However, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind, as the Repertoire Builder is designed differently from many other tools on the market. Understanding these differences will help you get the most out of your imported repertoires.

Large vs. Small Repertoires

In many platforms, you’ll find a simple setup — two repertoires: one for White and one for Black. While this is convenient, it can become difficult to manage and maintain as your preparation grows.

When designing the Repertoire Builder, a more modular approach was chosen — encouraging smaller, focused repertoires built around a specific opening or variation. This structure makes your study more efficient and your tools more powerful.

+ Create puzzles and training tools that target individual repertoires, helping you focus on one specific idea at a time.
+ Match your online games against individual repertoires to generate detailed performance statistics and personalized training advice.
+ Gain access to tools and analytics that highlight specific areas for improvement, without being diluted by large, catch-all databases.
+ Build repertoires that go deeper — with detailed annotations, ideas, and plans — rather than overwhelming, 20,000-move files.

In practice, this modular structure means your repertoires are easier to manage, update, and train.

Personal Note: The idea for this approach was inspired by a few friends who, when I was learning chess, shared their opening files with me — each focused on a single variation or theme. These files were detailed, annotated, and easy to follow, making study far more effective. It was simpler to focus, digest, and play through without being overwhelmed. I’ve since learned that many titled players manage their repertoires the same way — as individual opening files — and if it works for them, why not for us?

Warning: While by design the Repertoire Builder can be large, you will start seeing performance issues when an individual repertoire crosses the 15k moves mark.

Design Note: This approach isn’t necessarily better or worse — it’s simply the philosophy behind how the Repertoire Builder was designed. It favors precision, focus, and targeted improvement over bulk coverage. Analytics Cards such as Repertoire Match, Position Overview have been built to support and enhance this modular, small-repertoire approach.

Splitting Your Repertoires

You can easily split larger repertoires into smaller, more focused files directly within the platform. This process helps you reorganize broad collections of lines into clear, modular repertoires that align with the Repertoire Builder’s design philosophy.

The first step is to import your full repertoire. Once imported, right-click on the specific move point where the file naturally branches, and select: Extract → Repertoire from Move.

This action creates a new repertoire containing the mainline up to that point and the entire move tree that follows. You can then rename and organize the new file to match your preferred structure.

Repeat this process across your repertoire until each major branch has been extracted into its own focused file. After verifying your new repertoires, you can safely delete the original large file to keep your workspace clean and efficient.

For example, if you have a single Caro-Kann repertoire for Black, you could split it into individual repertoires such as:

◦ Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation (B12)
◦ Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Botvinnik-Carls Defense (B12)
◦ Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation (B18)
◦ Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation (B13)
◦ Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack (B13)

This modular organization makes it easier to train, analyze, and refine each opening variation independently.

Note: You can also nest repertoires to create additional layers of organization, allowing greater flexibility when grouping related openings or sub-variations.

Tip: Aim for around 1,000-2000 moves per repertoire — this size provides enough depth to cover a full variation while keeping your study focused, responsive, and optimized for best performance within the platform.

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