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chesscom vs lichess
A thread...
A thread...
Let's begin with a brief history lesson.
The 'golden age' of online chess occurred in the 2000s. Back then, a paid membership server called Internet Chess Club, or ICC, was all the rage.
The 'golden age' of online chess occurred in the 2000s. Back then, a paid membership server called Internet Chess Club, or ICC, was all the rage.
Through a downloadable client, ICC members had access to a large player pool, wild variants, pre-moves and innovative time controls. Beginners to the world's best cut their teeth on ICC.
ICC built the foundations for what great online chess looks like.
ICC built the foundations for what great online chess looks like.
Alas, nothing lasts forever. Today, ICC is a dinosaur in a modern age.
In its wake are two heirs (sorry, chess24).
- chesscom
- lichess
By Alexa global internet engagement metrics, chesscom and lichess are ranked 207th and 1680th respectively.
Online chess has come a long way.
In its wake are two heirs (sorry, chess24).
- chesscom
- lichess
By Alexa global internet engagement metrics, chesscom and lichess are ranked 207th and 1680th respectively.
Online chess has come a long way.
The debate of chesscom vs lichess sparks partisanship which rivals that of American politics.
The most common ammunition of both parties is the frequency of cheaters on each site. I'll address that point later in the thread.
Time to dive in...
The most common ammunition of both parties is the frequency of cheaters on each site. I'll address that point later in the thread.
Time to dive in...
Let's start with chesscom.
They've done an amazing job popularizing the game. From high-quality broadcasts to partnering with top streamers like xQc, our game is in better shape than ever because of their efforts.
Check your elitism at the door. PogChamps is a good thing.
They've done an amazing job popularizing the game. From high-quality broadcasts to partnering with top streamers like xQc, our game is in better shape than ever because of their efforts.
Check your elitism at the door. PogChamps is a good thing.
They also have a fantastic domain. The name "chess dot com" imprints a lasting memory.
Imagine you're a chess noob. You watch Queen's Gambit and decide it's time to become a GM. So you google chess and see chesscom as the top result.
A 300-rated chimp could remember that name.
Imagine you're a chess noob. You watch Queen's Gambit and decide it's time to become a GM. So you google chess and see chesscom as the top result.
A 300-rated chimp could remember that name.
Finally, their for-profit business model allows them to partner with and grow top streamers.
Hikaru, BotezLive, chessbrah... these channels and others have been instrumental for landing chess on the Twitch map.
The more eyes on the 64 squares, the better.
#growthegame
Hikaru, BotezLive, chessbrah... these channels and others have been instrumental for landing chess on the Twitch map.
The more eyes on the 64 squares, the better.
#growthegame
So chesscom has a premier marketing funnel. They are unparalleled at getting newcomers hooked to our nerdy game.
And that's great for growing the chess community. Ignoring this would be dishonest and foolish.
But it's time to stop jerking them off. Let's move on to lichess...
And that's great for growing the chess community. Ignoring this would be dishonest and foolish.
But it's time to stop jerking them off. Let's move on to lichess...
Lichess stands diametrically opposite to chesscom.
Registered as a French non-profit, it's an open-source project built by volunteers and funded entirely through donations.
And it's FREE.
What lichess lacks in funding, it makes up for in a stunning product.
Registered as a French non-profit, it's an open-source project built by volunteers and funded entirely through donations.
And it's FREE.
What lichess lacks in funding, it makes up for in a stunning product.
Playing on lichess is better than playing on chesscom.
If that statement triggers you, I welcome you to try it. Many of the paid features on chesscom (engine analysis, opening explorer, etc) are FREE on lichess.
You don't get a substandard product on the free site...
If that statement triggers you, I welcome you to try it. Many of the paid features on chesscom (engine analysis, opening explorer, etc) are FREE on lichess.
You don't get a substandard product on the free site...
You actually get a better product.
The playing interface of chesscom is heavy and clunky. Compare that to the smooth and natural feel of lichess.
Lichess also makes it easy to share knowledge with their Study feature, which can be used to create and save analysis.
The playing interface of chesscom is heavy and clunky. Compare that to the smooth and natural feel of lichess.
Lichess also makes it easy to share knowledge with their Study feature, which can be used to create and save analysis.
And I haven't even mentioned the arenas. As a kid growing up in the ICC age, competing in tourneys was huge for keeping me excited about the game.
The lichess arenas are exceptional, and they're always running. Not a bullet player? There's a blitz or rapid arena for you to join.
The lichess arenas are exceptional, and they're always running. Not a bullet player? There's a blitz or rapid arena for you to join.
For their value propositions, lichess is objectively better than chesscom.
Chesscom is like the jocks and preppy kids in high school. We thought they were the cool at first. But then we met the nerds and alternative kids, aka lichess, and realized they're actually the cool ones.
Chesscom is like the jocks and preppy kids in high school. We thought they were the cool at first. But then we met the nerds and alternative kids, aka lichess, and realized they're actually the cool ones.
Now to address a couple of counterarguments...
Cheating is the elephant in the room.
Those who claim one does a better job at prevention than the other are conflating their anecdotal evidence as the actual norm.
Cheating is the elephant in the room.
Those who claim one does a better job at prevention than the other are conflating their anecdotal evidence as the actual norm.
Both sites use a combination of automated detection and human review.
With tens of millions of games played per month, it's a fucking hard problem, and some cheaters will slip through the cracks on chesscom AND lichess.
They're both good. Cheating is a moot point.
With tens of millions of games played per month, it's a fucking hard problem, and some cheaters will slip through the cracks on chesscom AND lichess.
They're both good. Cheating is a moot point.
Some very strong players (99.9%ile+) claim lichess lacks the competition they're looking for.
I actually think it's a fair point. More GMs regularly play on chesscom today.
But it doesn't apply to the large majority of us, and I think this will be solved in a matter of time.
I actually think it's a fair point. More GMs regularly play on chesscom today.
But it doesn't apply to the large majority of us, and I think this will be solved in a matter of time.
"But the video lectures I get with my paid chesscom membership are amazing!"
Not really.
I have a lifetime diamond membership to chesscom and I've watched them. There are plenty of free alternatives out there (Twitch and YouTube) which are more than sufficient.
Not really.
I have a lifetime diamond membership to chesscom and I've watched them. There are plenty of free alternatives out there (Twitch and YouTube) which are more than sufficient.
Now that we've discussed some counterpoints, how do we reconcile all of this?
On the one hand, chesscom is growing the game at breathtaking speed.
On the other, lichess is just... better.
On the one hand, chesscom is growing the game at breathtaking speed.
On the other, lichess is just... better.
As a diehard lichess fan, I've come to realize that no reconciliation is necessary.
To me, chesscom is the engine which grows the game while lichess offers the better product.
It takes shedding the ego to admit that lichess needs chesscom as a funnel for getting more users.
To me, chesscom is the engine which grows the game while lichess offers the better product.
It takes shedding the ego to admit that lichess needs chesscom as a funnel for getting more users.
It's not a winner takes all market.
Lichess needs chesscom to get more users, and chesscom needs lichess... well, to figure out how to improve their product.
Chesscom and lichess are synergistic in a weird, fucked up way.
Lichess needs chesscom to get more users, and chesscom needs lichess... well, to figure out how to improve their product.
Chesscom and lichess are synergistic in a weird, fucked up way.
If you've gotten this far, thank you.
At the end of the day, both sites are trailblazing this new world we find ourselves in where chess is cool.
Please retweet for visibility and consider making a donation (and getting a sexy patron badge) to lichess. https://lichess.org/patron
At the end of the day, both sites are trailblazing this new world we find ourselves in where chess is cool.
Please retweet for visibility and consider making a donation (and getting a sexy patron badge) to lichess. https://lichess.org/patron
