Lichess is a free/libre, open-source chess application powered by volunteers and donations.Lichess: The Online Chess Hangout You Didn’t Know You Needed Chess. You’ve probably played it at some point. Maybe in school, or with your grandpa, or that one time you tried to look smart at a coffee shop. But somewhere along the way, it got this kinda intimidating vibe. All these complicated openings, chess masters throwing fancy moves around — like, what’s the deal?
Then there’s Lichess. Not some flashy site trying to sell you chess lessons or premium memberships. Nope. It’s free. Always has been. Just a place to play chess online with real people or bots, learn a bit, and sometimes get your brain fried.If you ever googled “free chess website,” “online chess games,” or “chess puzzles,” chances are you bumped into Lichess.
You can jump into games in seconds — blitz, bullet, classical, or whatever pace suits your mood. If you’re feeling quick and scrappy, bullet chess is your jam. Want to take your sweet time? Play classical or correspondence chess, which can last days.
Playing With People — Or Not What’s great is you don’t have to play against random strangers. You can challenge friends or just get matched with someone nearby in skill. Or if you’re feeling lonely, play against the AI. The computer’s strength can be tuned from “I’m just warming up” to “Get crushed.”
The matchmaking isn’t always perfect, though. Sometimes you get a grandmaster throwing you into deep end waters when you just wanna paddle around. Frustrating? Yeah, a bit. But hey, that’s part of the learning curve.
Tools and Tricks for Getting Better One thing I didn’t expect when I started messing around there — Lichess isn’t just for playing. It’s kinda like a gym for your brain. The puzzles are a big deal — daily puzzles, tactical challenges, endgame drills. Stuff that makes you think, scratch your head, and maybe bang your fist a little.
There’s also a game analysis tool that breaks down your matches. It points out where you blundered or missed a chance. Pretty handy if you want to get better without having to buy expensive lessons or watch hours of videos.
People also use “studies” — these are like shared lessons or mini courses where you can dive into specific openings, strategies, or famous games. It’s all community-driven, which makes it feel kinda personal.
Secondary keywords to keep in mind: chess training online, chess puzzles for beginners, online chess analysis, chess opening practice.
Social Stuff Without the Drama Even though it’s mainly about chess, the site has a surprisingly social side. You can chat a bit during games (if you want, or mute it if you don’t). There are teams you can join and compete in team battles.
They also have leaderboards and tournaments going on all the time, which add a bit of spice if you’re competitive. Plus, there’s a pretty active forum where folks talk about strategy, recent chess news, or just share memes (because chess memes are a thing, trust me).
Using It On The Go You don’t need a fancy computer or some high-end setup to use it. Lichess works smooth on phones and tablets. There are apps for both Android and iOS that sync with your account. Perfect for killing time on the bus or during your lunch break.
The app isn’t some bloated mess either. It’s clean, simple, and works like you’d expect.
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