There has been a growing interest in chess worldwide in recent years, as people around the world started to seek interactive entertainment online. More and more people are getting involved in the most intellectually challenging game where thinking, planning, and predicting opponents' moves take the forefront. In this material, we will discuss the most popular chess platforms, where to play chess tournaments online, what restrictions and prize pools exist etc.
So, you've also become interested in chess, learned the rules, and now want to test your skills against opponents online? Then follow these steps.
Platform for playing chess online
On the internet, there are several websites/platforms where you can play against other chess enthusiasts from around the world. For your initial experience, we recommend paying attention to the platform Chess.com — it's one of the most popular websites for playing chess online. Chess.com has its own mobile app, a user-friendly interface, convenient navigation menus, plenty of educational materials, and live broadcasts of other games. Here, you can choose from various game modes and participate in tournaments. If you don't like Chess.com, below you can find information about other chess platforms. They are mostly similar, but may differ in terms of interface, user base, regional availability, and more.
Chess.com: Chess.com is one of the most popular online platforms for chess. Here, you can participate in both free and paid tournaments and play with other players in rated and casual matches.
Lichess.org: Lichess is a free and open-source chess platform that also offers the opportunity to participate in tournaments. It's known for its user-friendly interface and extensive features.
Chess24.com: This platform provides a wide range of content, including tournament broadcasts, educational materials, and rated games. Online tournaments are also held here.
Playchess.com: Playchess.com is the official online platform of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and offers various tournaments and events. Internet Chess Club (ICC): ICC is a long-standing online chess platform with numerous tournaments and gaming resources.
ChessKid.com: ChessKid is geared towards children and provides educational resources and tournaments for young chess players.
ChessBase Playchess: Playchess is a platform provided by ChessBase, which also organizes tournaments and provides educational content.
In addition to these platforms, there may also be regional and specialized online chess services. When choosing a platform, consider your goals and skill level, as well as the opportunities for learning and interacting with other chess enthusiasts.
What is rating in chess?
So, you've chosen a platform, registered an account, and want to participate in tournaments? Don't rush! The first thing you need to take care of is improving your own rating. You can do this by playing in matchmaking against other players that the platform will automatically find for you. It's simple: victories against opponents will increase your rating, while losses will decrease it. In chess, your rating determines whether you can participate in a particular tournament. Suppose your Elo rating is 1200 — you'll be able to play in tournaments that allow your rating. However, you won't be able to enter tournaments with restrictions like "600-1100 Elo" or "1500+ Elo only." The system won't allow you to play against opponents who are either too weak or too strong.
Chess websites typically use rating systems to determine players' skill levels. Two of the most popular rating systems in the world of chess are:
Elo Rating System: This system was developed by American physicist and chess player Arpad Elo and is one of the most widely used in chess. In the Elo system, each player is assigned an initial rating, and after each game, the rating changes based on the results of the match and the opponent's rating. Beating stronger opponents earns more rating points than defeating weaker players. This system is used on platforms such as Chess.com and lichess.org.
Glicko Rating System: This system serves as an alternative to the Elo system and is also used for rating players on some chess websites. It is similar to the Elo system but takes into account additional factors, such as uncertainty in a player's rating.
Both of these methods allow for the assessment of chess players' skill levels and determining the rating difference between players, enabling fair matchmaking and the organization of balanced matches and tournaments.
After understanding the rating, it is important to grasp the tournament modes. In chess, there are several types of games that differ in the time allotted for each move and the overall duration of the match.
Types of chess matches
Once you've gained a certain amount of rating, you can participate in tournaments. On platforms like Chess.com, users can create their own tournaments, and there are also tournaments sponsored by the platform itself or other sponsors. In addition to rating restrictions, tournaments can differ in the type of games. Typically, there are four types: Classical, Rapid, Blitz, and Bullet. The only difference between them is the amount of time given to players for their moves. In classical games, players have several hours to think, while in Bullet, you need to move almost instantly, relying mostly on intuition and luck. Blitz and Rapid are more popular as they strike a balance between the classical and Bullet formats. However, each player still chooses the mode that suits them best. As for professional players and grandmasters, they play in all modes. Some modes are often used for training or warm-up, while others are used in tournaments.
Standard Chess: These are traditional chess games where each player is usually given a longer time to think, for example, from 1 hour to several hours for the entire game. The emphasis here is on deep calculation and strategy.
Rapid Chess: In rapid chess, each player is given more time than in fast formats but less than in standard chess. Typically, this ranges from 15 to 60 minutes per game. Rapid chess allows players to think more carefully about their moves compared to fast and bullet chess.
Blitz Chess: In blitz chess, each player is allotted only a few minutes (usually 3 to 5 minutes) for the entire game. This format demands quick reactions and intuitive calculation since there is very little time for deep thinking.
Bullet Chess: In bullet chess, popular games, each player has only a few seconds (usually 1 to 2 seconds) for each move. This is the fastest format where decisions are made instantly, and players rely heavily on intuition.
The difference between these types of games lies in the amount of time available to each player for each move and for the entire game. The less time there is, the faster and more dynamic the game becomes, with a greater focus on fast play and intuition, whereas in standard chess, there is more time for contemplation and planning. Each type has its own characteristics and appeals to a different audience of chess players.
Prize pools at chess tournaments
How much can you earn in chess tournaments? It's worth mentioning right away that chess is not the most convenient or easiest way to make money. In most tournaments for beginner players, there is no prize fund at all — the competition is for rating points or, in rare cases, symbolic prizes from the platform or sponsors. This is done to prevent more experienced players from creating smurf accounts for the sake of profit. Another reason is the possibility of cheating and assistance from AI assistants, which can analyze and play games on your behalf. That's why relatively large tournaments require participants to have a high Elo rating, provide identity verification, go through qualifications, and more. Only players who have independently achieved high results can make it to the professional level.
Chess players are awarded the title of Grandmaster for their achievements in professional chess and for meeting certain norms set by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). To become a Grandmaster, one must accumulate a rating of over 2500 Elo points. This rating must be confirmed and maintained in a series of tournaments. In addition, a certain number of "Grandmaster norms" must be earned in international tournaments. Norms include victories or high results against other Grandmasters and International Masters, as well as a specific number of rating points earned in tournaments.
To qualify for top tournaments, one must pass a complex system of qualifications or hold the title of Grandmaster (awarded for a 2500+ Elo rating). Such tournaments can offer significant prize money, ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, and in the largest championships, this amount can reach several million dollars. However, to compete for these winnings, you must be a true master of the game, with many years of experience and a high Elo rating.
To better understand the earning potential in chess tournaments, it's worth looking at the achievements of the strongest players. According to the Chess.com website, in 2022, only 20 chess players from around the world were able to win more than $100,000 in tournaments. Among them are stars like Magnus Carlsen, Wesley So, Hikaru Nakamura, and other masters who have been playing chess at the world level for most of their lives. It's important to understand that millions of players worldwide play chess, but only a few dozen of them can make a living from prizes. Of course, there are other sources of income, such as sponsorships, but these are individual cases.
