Improvement
Where You Should Be Playing Chess
Chess.com or Lichess? Your Choice Could Impact Your Rating
Have you ever played chess online? If you haven’t, it’s quite amazing to combat people all over the world. You might match up against a Norwegian followed by someone from Indonesia. All you need is a computer and an Internet connection, and you can go up against anyone.
If you have played chess online, you might have a favorite chess website. Two of the most popular chess websites are Chess.com and Lichess.org. They are both excellent but for different reasons. Your choice will impact the experience you ultimately have.
I like the Chess.com rating system. Their ratings are comparable to more official ratings from major chess organizations like USCF and FIDE. This can be beneficial because it gives you a relatively realistic sense of your level of play. If you are a 1600 on Chess.com, you will probably get a similar assessment if you go to an Over-the-Board tournament.
On Lichess, however, your rating is likely to be several hundred points higher than other ratings you might receive. This may or may not help your motivation to improve, but what an ego boost! You might be a 1200 everywhere else but a 1600 on Lichess. Perhaps this is pure deception, but sometimes it feels great to engage in fantasy.
Besides these numerical differences, I find the default Lichess settings more aesthetically pleasing. The pieces sound like raindrops when they hit the board. The color palette is simple and tasteful. This provides a soothing chess experience to help you take your mind off the worries of the world. The aesthetics of Chess.com are functional but not as relaxing.
Chess.com, on the other hand, has a larger user base which means more variation in the players you will face. This could potentially lead to a greater amount of growth and deeper understanding if you are learning from every game. There are also flags showing your opponents’ nationalities, creating a truly international flavor. Lichess has a smaller but perhaps more dedicated community.
Both websites allow you to complete puzzles, watch videos, analyze your games, and be part of the online chess community. Most of these benefits are free on Chess.com, while Lichess is entirely free. This feels somewhat revolutionary in an age where so many pleasures are commodified. Yet the unbridled joy of chess is available to all who have access to the Internet.
Maybe you have been struggling with chess recently. Maybe your rating is dropping, staying the same, or not increasing as quickly as you would like. In any of these situations, wouldn’t it be nice to have a fresh start? You totally can! If you have been primarily playing on Chess.com, try out Lichess for a while and see how it feels (or vice versa).
I started out on Chess.com, but these days I prefer Lichess. If you find you like both websites — as I do — your choice may depend on your mood. If you are feeling more competitive, maybe use Chess.com. If you are trying to relax, you might try out Lichess. You may also discover in turn that the site you choose affects your mentality towards the game.
When considering where to play chess, then, it is crucial to examine your goals. Are you playing chess to improve, or more for the aesthetic experience? Do you want to be part of a larger or smaller community? What type of mood are you in today? Whether you pick one website or the other, I think you will enjoy your experience.
