Question for the readers - I am in the low 2200 in my national, FIDE, and ICC standard ratings, and I want to get a few 15 minute games a week on ICC to meet some of my yearly goals. However, lately am finding I have to wait for a long time to get a game against opponent rated above 2000 on ICC. Otherwise the quality of games tends to be lower than what I see in the local chess tournaments, so this is a less than optimal situation. Is there a better option in terms of other playing sites?
In addition to ICC, I am open to looking at ChessPlanet, Lichess, PlayChess, newly launched Fide playing zone, etc, but want to hear if any of the readers have better experiences with getting slower games?
Posts
Few +2000 people play 15 min chess on the Internet.
ReplyDeleteStill, I think ICC is your best bet. You may want to try the 15-min pool to get a game faster.
Another option would be to arrange some games with other players in advance.
Thanks Laurent, this is roughly what I thought too, but it's good to have some validation/confirmation :)
DeleteHi Roman, lichess mod speaking. My first recommendation is naturally lichess. We are now the #2 site in the world: http://chess-links.org/. I can't speak for classical as I rarely play long games these days (aside from correspondence), but I can certainly say that your skill level is very well-covered in blitz and bullet. Our cheat detection system has always been strong, but it's improved by leaps and bounds in the last month. We don't talk about it much (intentionally), but I can assure you we always do our very best. We keep a close watch on our higher-level players (and verify them if possible, though the verification is not always user-visible), and were the first to catch out the chess fraud of the 2014, fake GM Praveen Thipsay (he's real, but I don't think he plays online!).
ReplyDeleteFailing that, I believe ICC is indeed your best bet. They have solid cheat detection systems and a good variety of features. The interface of most clients leaves a lot to be desired, but the service is quite good and ICC has the largest top-level (IM or above) player base of all chess sites. But we are actively trying to improve on that.
I would _strongly_ recommend against PlayChess and particularly FIDE Arena. Their master verification system is hilariously easy to abuse. About a year ago there was an engine user who posed as GM Praveen Thipsay from India. It took PlayChess something like 3 months to catch him out (after we informed them of the fact) and I think he is still playing on FIDE Arena (which is shockingly poor in interface, features and quality of service). It's shocking that they have the gall to charge for such a poor service at all!
As for chess.com, I have mixed feelings. They have an impressive selection of features but they charge egregious amounts for them. Their cheat detection systems are quite weak -- particularly at lower levels. And the staff of the sites doesn't regularly offer support, so I find the service a little poor. If you're willing to pay for a service, ICC is certainly better than chesscom in just about every way.
TL;DR: for me, lichess is the best, but naturally I'm biased. :) Consider an ICC subscription if you find our selection lacking. I wouldn't place much trust in chess sites beyond lichess and ICC for the above stated reasons.
Ioannis - Thanks for the detailed response! Yeah, I am playing blitz more and more often on lichess now that the app is up and running; I also use "import game" feature for my interesting ICC games believe this or not, so that I can get a URL and computer analysis. Two reasons holding me from making a switch for playing 15+ games though - 1) standard rating does take time to build up 2) I already have ICC subscription.
DeleteWhich the evidence of saying that Praveen Thipsay which plays on FIDE online arena is a cheater?
DeleteWe know for a fact that the impostor registered around the same time on these other sites primarily by using a fabricated account on Chessbomb. If I recall correctly, the age of the impostor's account was visible on FIDE and PlayChess. We can safely assume that fake Thipsay is indeed the person playing on FIDE Arena (though I'm not sure if fake Thipsay has been banned yet).
DeleteThanks for the response..., but.. Could you give me the links of the articles which appears these?
DeleteThere really is no article, apart from http://lichess.org/forum/off-topic-discussion/erratum---gm-thipsay-was-a-fake.
DeleteMost of the information I gave above is from discussions I've had with other moderators.
Re: LiChess vs. Chess.com. I've always been able to get help with issues on chess.com. When issues have arisen at LiChess, on the other hand, I have found no help.
DeleteI have played on both ICC and Chess.com and cannot agree Chess.com i find a much better place
DeleteThe ICC and particulary Team 45 45 lack transparency and are not fun places to play chess
I use FICS for 15 mins. I don't know if people are cheating or not, but I feel they are only hurting their own game and helping me get better :).
ReplyDeleteThe ICC is a waste of time poor software and irrational mods avoid
ReplyDeleteI think Lichess is great. I also subscribe to Chess24. And like to play correspondence chess at red hot pawn.
ReplyDeleteI forgot if you have android or ios the chess time app is a great correspondence chess app that's next update will include playing games in one sitting.
ReplyDeleteone game runners on lichess.
ReplyDelete