Lichess
Free chess with no adverts, no account required and an analysis engine better than the paid ones, funded entirely by donations.
Opens in a new tab. We do not control this site and it may have changed since we catalogued it.
How to get the most from it
Lichess sits in Board Games under Play, filed as instant.
- Just open it. It pays off within seconds, with nothing to read first.
- It works on a phone or a desktop, so open it on whatever is nearest.
- It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
- No account needed — you can start without signing up.
- Go in expecting something competitive, brainy and useful.
About this category: Chess, draughts, connection games and modern board games ported honestly. Play a stranger or send a link to someone in another country.
Good for
- A five-second distraction
- Chasing a better score
- Giving your brain a workout
- Getting something practical done
- A quiet break at your desk
- Killing time on your phone
- Trying it with zero commitment
Lichess: quick answers
Is Lichess free?
Yes. Lichess is free to use and needs no account.
Do I need an account to use Lichess?
No. You can use Lichess without signing up for anything.
Does Lichess work on a phone?
Yes. Lichess works on phones as well as desktop browsers.
Is Lichess safe for work?
Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.
How long does Lichess take?
We file it as "Instant": Good within five seconds of loading.
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