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How to estimate your chess grade using Lichess

Lesson 1 Getting started

This lesson is for chess players who have never been given a chess grade. Your grade is an indication of your strength.
You can use the podcast with halt and restarts to support your efforts

So, step one. 

Get acquainted with Lichess

The first step. Log into 
https://lichess.org/

Don’t be deterred by the complexity of the site. It’s user friendly. For real beginners, the section learn gives you confidence about making moves on the Lichess screen before seeking a game

The next big step is getting registered with your Lichess handle you provide for yourself. 

Create a Lichess.org Account and your chosen Lichess identifier (‘handle)

When on the www.lichess.org website
Click “SIGN IN” on the top right of the main page
Type in either your e-mail and your secure password in the appropriate fields
Click “SIGN IN” at the bottom
You are now logged in and are at the main playing area of lichess.org. Now register while on the site using your self-chosen Lichess handle. This is the unique name you will have for all your Lichess games. Pick one you can remember.

You are now ready to seek a game. 

Select Chose a game 

Choose standard. 
This is Casual or Rated
Casual does not count towards your rating. It’s OK to practice with Casual, but you need Rated to learn your actual strength and lose that question mark. So when you have tried with Casual Choose Rated

You then chose the time limit. I suggest for practical reasons practice with 15 minutes which applies to both players.
Choose 15 min

You then chose time increment, this is the extra time added after every move. I suggest 10 seconds
Choose 10 seconds

You will now be given a provisional grade accompanied by a question mark.  As you play a few games, the grade will change and settle down. 
Your first grade is set at 1500? which is likely to be high for someone starting out in competitive chess.

You must chose opponent’s strength. I suggest 300 points higher and lower than your grade (remember, the 1500? starting grade).
Choose 300 higher and 300 lower

When you have completed these requests you will be provided with an opponent of roughly your strength. 

Play the game

Don’t worry if you lose.  If so, I suggest you then STOP,  as that is enough for your lesson. You have made your step into an invaluable way not only of learning about your chess skills but of improving them.
This is equivalent to the first time you stepped into a car and learned what a steering wheel is for.

How to resign

One important point of Lychessiquette, is how to resign. As you play, there are click buttons for you to: 
resign
abort the game before it starts
Or offer a draw. 

All are useful, but resigning is vital.

The resign button is a little flag
Abort is an x
Offering a draw is 1/2

What next?

There are many wonderful ways you can learn from Lychess, such as how good was every move you made in every game. . But that is for our next lesson…

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