Lichess vs Old School Chess
How a free open-source platform compares with a coaching-centered learning experience.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: Lichess is one of the most generous projects on the internet. Everything free, no catches. I genuinely admire it. What we offer here is a different kind of value — the kind you get from having a teacher in the room who knows your game.
Overview
Lichess is the internet's most impressive open-source chess project. Every feature is free, there are no ads, and the codebase is publicly available. It offers play, puzzles, analysis, studies, tournaments, and more — all without asking for a penny.
Old School Chess was built on a different premise: that many players, especially adult beginners, need more than tools. They need a coach. Professor Archer provides context-aware guidance, explains concepts in plain language, and helps you understand not just what to do but why.
This comparison is less about which is "better" and more about understanding what each offers so you can use them wisely.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Lichess | Old School Chess |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Completely free | Free to start |
| Analysis Engine | Full Stockfish, free | Coach-guided explanations |
| Learning Style | Self-directed | Guided coaching |
| Puzzles | Unlimited, free | Curated with coaching context |
| Competitive Play | Full rated matchmaking | Learning-focused |
| Community Content | Studies, forums, teams | Structured curriculum |
Detailed Review
Lichess gives you every tool you could want for free. The analysis board runs Stockfish at full strength, showing you engine evaluations, best moves, and tactical blunders. The puzzle database is enormous and well-curated. The studies feature lets anyone create and share interactive lessons, and the community has built thousands of them.
The challenge is that Lichess assumes you know how to use these tools effectively. Stockfish will tell you a move is a blunder, but it will not explain why in human terms. It will not notice that you make the same type of mistake every game, or gently suggest that you spend a week on knight endgames because that is your weakest area.
Old School Chess fills that gap. The coaching experience is designed to interpret your play, identify patterns, and provide explanations that make sense to a human learner. It trades the sheer volume of Lichess's toolbox for depth of understanding and personal attention.
Who Should Use What?
Choose Lichess if you are comfortable directing your own study, enjoy exploring tools and features independently, and want the best free analysis and play platform available.
Choose Old School Chess if you want a structured coaching experience, appreciate having someone explain concepts in context, and prefer a guided path over a toolbox.
The combination is powerful: play your games on Lichess, run the engine analysis, and then bring your questions to Old School Chess where Professor Archer can help you understand the patterns behind the numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Old School Chess use Stockfish?
Old School Chess focuses on coach-driven explanations rather than raw engine output. The goal is to help you understand positions in human terms, not just see computer evaluations.
Is Lichess good for complete beginners?
Lichess is excellent, but it does not hold your hand. A complete beginner may benefit from a more guided introduction before diving into Lichess's tools.
Can I import my Lichess games into Old School Chess?
The platforms focus on different aspects of your chess journey. You can discuss positions and concepts from your Lichess games during your coaching sessions on Old School Chess.
Professor Archer says: I sometimes compare Lichess to a world-class gym with every machine you could want. Old School Chess is more like a personal trainer who meets you where you are. The gym is wonderful, but the trainer knows exactly which exercises you need this week.
Quick Quiz
What does Lichess offer that most paid platforms charge for?
- Personal coaching tailored to your level - Lichess does not offer personal coaching. It provides tools for self-directed learning.
- Full-strength Stockfish analysis for free (Correct) - Correct. Lichess provides full Stockfish analysis to all users at no cost, which is a feature many paid platforms restrict to premium tiers.
- A structured learning curriculum - Lichess has community-created studies, but it does not offer a structured curriculum in the way some coaching-focused platforms do.
- Guaranteed grandmaster opponents - No platform guarantees grandmaster opponents. Matchmaking on all platforms is based on rating.