lichess_make_move · Lichess MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What lichess_make_move does on Lichess MCP

AI agents invoke lichess_make_move to trigger actions in Lichess MCP. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why lichess_make_move needs a policy

This tool triggers an external operation on the Lichess platform by submitting a move in a live game. It is not merely writing data locally — it interacts with an ongoing real-time game session, affecting game state for both players. This fits the Execute category (triggers external operations whose effects depend on arguments).

From the tool's definition 'Play a chess move in an active Lichess game', 'Submit your move during a live game'

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

lichess_make_move Rate-limited

lichess_make_move stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "lichess_make_move": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "lichess_make_move_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Lichess MCP, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about lichess_make_move

What does the lichess_make_move tool do? +

Play a chess move in an active Lichess game using UCI notation (e.g. e2e4, d7d5, e7e8q for promotion). Submit your move during a live game. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Lichess MCP MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on lichess_make_move? +

Register the Lichess MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for lichess_make_move: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Lichess MCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is lichess_make_move? +

lichess_make_move is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit lichess_make_move? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the lichess_make_move rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block lichess_make_move completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for lichess_make_move. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides lichess_make_move? +

lichess_make_move is provided by the Lichess MCP server (jamespdaily/lichess-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.