The Chess Angle Ep. 180: My Complete Switch to Lichess
Mar 8, 2026
A deep dive into why the presenter switched fully to Lichess for online play. Discussion of Lichess’s clean interface, realistic puzzles, and free study tools. Thoughts on time controls like 5+3 and 10+5 and how increments improve focus. Comparison of player pools and how platform features like pieces, lag, and screen clarity affect practical play.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Avoid Multiple Buys In Short Tournaments
- Consider avoiding multiple buys in a five-round event because each bye reduces pairing quality and makes rating gains unlikely.
- Neil suggests aiming to play consistently or skip the event if you must take several byes.
Online Rapid Games Can Be Your Main Competitive Arena
- Connor from Canada emailed that online rapid games are his highest-stakes chess because he lacks local OTB play and focuses intensely on them.
- Neil used the email to contrast attitudes: some treat online as casual, while others (like Connor) treat it as their main competitive outlet.
Neil’s Full Switch To Lichess For Online Play
- Neil decided to stop playing on Chess.com and play exclusively on Lichess for online games while still using Chess.com for lessons and news.
- He frames the switch as a time-and-priority decision driven by site vibe, UI, and practical play features.