LiChess Tutorial
Table Of Contents
- Table Of Contents
- What’s New in Blind Mode
- Introduction
- 1. Navigating Lichess Using a Screen Reader
- 2. Getting Started
- 3. Playing a Game
- 4. making moves
- 4.2 Understanding and Adjusting Board Settings
- 4.4 Navigating the Chessboard
- 5. Analysis
- 6. Puzzles
- 7. Broadcasts
- 8. Studies
- 9. Miscellaneous Features
- 10. Contributions
What’s New in Blind Mode
The following section highlights the latest changes and improvements made to Lichess’s blind mode, also known as the non-visual user interface (NVUI). It is intended for users who are already familiar with how NVUI works and want to stay up to date with ongoing enhancements. Whether it’s a new feature, a bug fix, or a small accessibility improvement, each item is listed with a brief description and a link to the relevant pull request for those interested in technical details. The most recent updates appear at the top of the list, making it easy to check what’s new. You can skip to the next heading to begin reading the tutorial.
-
**the ability to read ranks, files and diagonals:
- while focused on any square on the board,
x
scans diagonal rays clockwise, starting from top-right. Alt + x
scans vertical and horizontal rays clockwise, starting from top.- Holding
Shift
reverses the direction (counter-clockwise). - Repeating the same command continues to the next ray in the sequence.
- Users can freely mix
x
andAlt + x
while staying on the same square. This expands spatial awareness and gives more flexible scanning options to blind mode users. PR #17701
- while focused on any square on the board,
-
Announce Pieces by Color: The
p
(piece) command now supports announcing pieces by color using a pseudo-piece symbol:p a
announces the location of all black pieces.p n
announces the location of all black knights.P A
announces the location of all white pieces.P N
announces the location of all white knights. This allows blind mode users to quickly scan the board for pieces of a specific color.
PR #17687
-
Puzzle Board Navigation Restored: Refactored the puzzle board to restore full keyboard navigation in blind mode: Users can now move around the board using arrow keys while solving puzzles. PR #17664
-
Case-Insensitive Drops/Promotions: Blind mode now accepts capital letters for piece notation in Crazyhouse drops and pawn promotions. For example, entering a drop as “N@f3” or a promotion as “e1=Q” will work (previously NVUI might have only accepted lowercase “n@f3” or “e1=q”). This makes input more forgiving and intuitive for those accustomed to uppercase piece letters. PR #17650
-
Layout Order Setting: Added an option in blind mode, found under the board settings, to choose the order of “Actions” vs “Board” on the game page. Users can now toggle whether the action buttons (resign, offer draw, etc.) are displayed before the board or after it, according to their preference, rather than being in a fixed order. PR #17573
-
Consistent Clock Speech: The clock announcement feature now uses the same verbal time format introduced in the UI for its spoken output. This refactor means when blind mode “speaks” the clock, it uses the translated, human-friendly format (e.g. “5 minutes 30 seconds”) instead of a raw numeric format, keeping speech and display consistent. PR #17473
-
Better Board Focus Description: Improved the description announced when the chessboard receives focus in NVUI. Instead of just reading coordinates, the screen reader will now say “Square [coordinate]” which provides more context (for example, hearing “Square e4” rather than just “e4”). PR #17510
-
Localized “Ongoing Games” in Lobby: The blind mode lobby now uses translated text for the “ongoing games” section. Previously this label was not internationalized; now it reuses existing translations for consistency, so users in all languages will see a properly translated phrase. PR #17562
-
Punctuation for Move Announcements: Added punctuation to moves in NVUI to aid screen reader pauses. This small change improves how moves are spoken by text-to-speech, ensuring there’s a clear break (for example, after a move is read aloud) so the audio is more understandable. PR #17465
-
Internationalized Input Commands: Made blind mode input commands translatable. NVUI commands (like “takeback” or “draw”) are now integrated with Lichess’s i18n system, so they can be typed and recognized in the user’s language and their descriptions are shown in the correct locale. PR #17615
-
Improved Layout for Game Page: The blind mode game (round) page layout was reorganized for easier navigation:
- The move input form is now placed directly next to the board, allowing quicker navigation between entering moves and hearing board state.
- Tooltips on action buttons were removed to prevent redundant screen reader output (e.g., “resign button… resign”).
- Quick keyboard commands were added:
- Typing
"board"
focuses the board. - Typing
"i"
focuses the input field.
PR #17452
- Typing
-
Verbal Clock Announcements: Blind mode now renders clock times as spoken text rather than as digits. For example, a clock showing “01:30” will be announced as “1 hour, 30 minutes” instead of “01 colon 30”. This unification (used in both game and analysis) helps screen readers and uses existing translations for time units. PR #17442
-
Sorted ‘Scan’ Command Output: The blind mode “scan” command (which lists pieces on the board) now outputs in a sorted, consistent order. This makes it easier for visually impaired users to parse the list of pieces without a confusing order. PR #17190
-
Game Status in broadcasts and Study Mode: Blind mode will now announce or display the game result/status when viewing a study chapter. Previously, results (like checkmate or draw) in study replays were missing – now the NVUI shows these outcomes, partially addressing that issue. PR #17312
-
Broadcast Navigation Controls: Introduced accessible navigation for broadcasts in blind mode. NVUI now provides dropdowns/combo boxes to switch between broadcast groups, rounds, and games, allowing visually impaired users to navigate multi-game broadcasts. It also improved focus handling (auto-focusing the new selection) so screen readers don’t reset to the top of the page. PR #17341
-
Unusual Results Announced: Added support for “unusual” game results in blind mode broadcasts and studies. Beyond standard checkmates or draws, NVUI will now also announce special outcomes (e.g. time outs, aborts, etc.), ensuring all game results are conveyed to the user. PR #17347
-
Chat in Analysis NVUI: The chat room is now included in the blind mode analysis/study page. NVUI adds the chat at the end of the page, so blind users can read and participate in study or broadcast chat using their screen reader. PR #17387
-
Tournament Info and Players List: Tournament pages in blind mode now show tournament details and the player list (loaded lazily for performance). The tournament info is placed at the bottom of the NVUI page, making sure blind users can access standings and participants in an “immersive” way via screen reader. PR #17401
-
“Copy FEN” Button: Added an accessible “Copy FEN” button in analysis mode for blind users. In NVUI, users can now copy the FEN of the current position with a single button press, addressing a missing feature in the analysis board for blind mode. PR #17407
-
Crazyhouse Support in Blind Mode: Blind mode now supports the Crazyhouse variant. This update allows blind users to play Crazyhouse (with piece drops) and includes code clean-ups like better input handling and fixes for selection issues in NVUI. PR #16997
-
Choose Color in Blind Mode: Restored the option for a blind mode player to select their own color when creating a game (a feature that had been lost in a regression). Blind users can again choose to play as White or Black instead of being forced into random color. PR #17017
-
Board Fully Visible on Small Screens: Ensured the entire 8×8 board is displayed in blind mode even on small screens. Squares now scale to 1/8 of the screen width (or of 500px on larger screens) so that no ranks/files are cut off in NVUI. This works mostly on landscape orientation. PR #17025
-
Input Disambiguation Fix: Fixed an issue with blind mode move input where ambiguous moves weren’t handled properly. This resolves problems entering moves that require disambiguation (such as two identical pieces moving) so that NVUI recognizes them correctly. PR #17142
-
Various NVUI Improvements: A collection of tweaks added multiple blind mode features:
- Fixed the display of player info in studies and broadcasts.
- Added keyboard commands to jump to next/previous moves or variations while focusing on the board: shift + a and shift + d to navigate moves, alt + shift + a and alt + shift + d to navigate lines.
- Clock announcements now work in studies and broadcasts.
- Added combo Box to switch between different broadcast games more easily.
PR #16864
-
Fixed Blind Mode in Broadcasts: Resolved a bug that caused the blind mode to crash during broadcast games. This fix ensures blind mode works correctly when viewing live broadcasts. PR #16856
Introduction
Welcome to the Lichess Blind Mode Tutorial — a practical guide designed for blind and visually impaired players using screen readers to enjoy chess on lichess.org.
Lichess is one of the most accessible chess platforms available today. Its built-in Blind Mode transforms the interface into a fully keyboard-navigable and screen reader-friendly environment, enabling users to:
- Play games against the computer or other players
- Analyze games using a powerful chess engine
- Join teams and tournaments
- Solve puzzles and study positions
- Interact with ongoing broadcasts of top-level games
This guide aims to:
- Help you get started with Blind Mode
- Explain how to navigate and interact with the site using screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and Orca
- Introduce keyboard shortcuts and commands for efficient gameplay
- Highlight key features and known limitations
- Suggest workarounds and offer troubleshooting tips
⚠️ Note: Lichess is a large and continuously evolving platform. While this guide aims to cover as many relevant features as possible for blind users, it is not intended to be fully comprehensive. Given the wide range of tools and frequent updates, some areas may not be included or may require future expansion. We encourage readers to explore beyond this tutorial and contribute suggestions for future revisions.
We also want to express our appreciation to the Lichess development team for their ongoing efforts to make the platform more accessible. Their responsiveness to feedback and collaboration with blind users have played a key role in shaping a more inclusive experience.
If you encounter any bugs or accessibility issues, please refer to the “Reporting Issues and Feedback” section at the end of this guide. Your input helps improve the platform for everyone.
Let’s begin!
1. Navigating Lichess Using a Screen Reader
Using Lichess in Blind Mode depends heavily on knowing how to switch between Browse Mode and Focus Mode (also known as Forms Mode or Interaction Mode). Understanding when to use each mode is key to navigating the site efficiently.
1.1 Browse Mode vs Focus Mode
Screen readers offer two main ways to interact with websites:
-
Browse Mode (also called Virtual Cursor or Reading Mode): Allows you to read the content of the page using navigation keys (like
H
for headings orB
for buttons). Use this mode to explore the page, read game history, navigate menus, or find links and settings. -
Focus Mode (also called Forms or Interaction Mode): Sends your keystrokes directly to a form field or interactive element. Use this when you need to type in the move input field, adjust game settings, or interact directly with the chessboard.
Switching between these two modes is essential. A common pattern is:
- Browse Mode to find and open a form
- Switch to Focus Mode to type or interact
1.2 Navigation Keys: Windows (NVDA / JAWS)
These keys work in Browse Mode, which is active by default when a page loads.
-
Toggle Browse / Focus Mode:
NVDA + Space
(for NVDA) orInsert + Z
(for JAWS) -
Go to the top of the page:
Ctrl + Home
-
Move to the next heading:
H
-
Move to heading level 1–6: Press the number keys
1
through6
to jump to corresponding heading levels -
Jump to the next button:
B
-
Jump to the next edit field:
E
-
Find text on the page:
NVDA + Ctrl + F
orJAWS key + Ctrl + F
Tip: Holding Shift with any of these navigation keys reverses the direction (e.g., Shift + H
moves to the previous heading).
1.3 Navigation Keys: macOS (VoiceOver)
VoiceOver offers two ways to navigate:
-
With QuickNav enabled, you can use single-letter keys similar to Windows screen readers.
-
With QuickNav disabled, you use VO + Command + key combinations.
-
Toggle QuickNav:
VO + Q
Navigation Shortcuts (QuickNav On)
-
Next heading:
H
-
Jump to heading level 1–6: Press
1
to6
for heading levels 1 through 6, orShift + 1
to6
to move backward -
Next button:
B
-
Next edit field:
E
Navigation Shortcuts (QuickNav Off)
-
Next heading:
VO + Command + H
-
Next button:
VO + Command + B
-
Next edit field:
VO + Command + J
-
Go to the top of the page:
VO + Fn + Left Arrow
-
Find text on the page:
Command + F
Tip: Holding Shift with any of these navigation keys reverses the direction (e.g., Shift + H
moves to the previous heading).
Use the method that works best for you. QuickNav is often more convenient for fast navigation, while VO+Command combos offer more control when QuickNav is off.
1.4 Using Tab and Arrow Keys
While navigation keys like H
, B
, and E
are powerful, sometimes the simplest keys — Tab and Arrow Keys — are the most reliable.
- Tab / Shift + Tab: Move between interactive elements (like buttons, edit fields, and links). Useful for moving through forms and settings.
- Arrow keys (Up/Down): Scroll through the page line by line in Browse Mode. This helps with reading instructions or game logs.
⚠️ Be cautious: using Tab alone may skip over important content. Use Arrow Keys in Browse Mode to explore thoroughly.
2. Getting Started
2.1 Requirements and Recommendations
To use Lichess effectively in Blind Mode, you’ll need:
-
A screen reader, such as:
-
A modern web browser, like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge
-
A stable internet connection
-
Familiarity with keyboard navigation on the web
⚠️ If you’re using Lichess on a mobile device, we recommend connecting a Bluetooth or wired keyboard. While the touch screen interface is partially usable, the current experience is not yet fully optimized for screen reader users on mobile without a physical keyboard.
Although it’s possible to play anonymously, creating a free account is highly recommended. This allows you to track your games, ratings, preferences, and access advanced features like tournaments, studies, and team play.
2.2 Enabling Blind Mode
Blind Mode is a special accessibility feature on Lichess that adapts the entire website for screen reader users. When enabled, it:
- Simplifies the page layout to remove visual clutter
- Presents information in a logical, linear structure
- Provides auditory feedback for game events and actions
- Enables keyboard shortcuts and command-based interaction with the chessboard
In short, Blind Mode transforms Lichess into a screen-reader-friendly environment that makes playing and navigating fully accessible without using a mouse.
To enable it:
- Open lichess.org
- Your screen reader should already be in Browse Mode by default (if not, enable it: NVDA+Space, Insert+Z in JAWS, or turn off QuickNav in VoiceOver)
- Press Ctrl+Home (Windows) or VO+Fn+Left (Mac) to go to the top of the page
- Use the Down Arrow to reach the button labeled: “Accessibility: Enable blind mode”
- Press Enter or Space to activate it Once active, the label will change to “Accessibility: Disable blind mode”
Once you enable Blind Mode while signed in, Lichess will remember your preference. It will stay active automatically every time you visit the site, without needing to turn it on again.
2.3 Signing In or Creating an Account
To sign in or register for a free account:
- Press the Down Arrow repeatedly until you reach the “Sign in” link. Alternatively, you can use the find feature on your screen reader by pressing NVDA+Ctrl+F (or Command+F on Mac) and type sign in to locate it quickly.
- Press Enter to open the login page
- If you already have an account, enter your username and password, then press Enter to log in.
If you’re new to Lichess, select “Register” to create an account. You’ll be asked to fill out a simple form with the following:
- A username: Choose something appropriate and family-friendly. It cannot be changed later, and accounts with offensive names may be closed.
- A password: Lichess will provide feedback on password strength as you type.
- An email address: This is optional but highly recommended, as it allows you to reset your password if needed.
Before completing registration, you must:
- Agree not to use chess engines, books, databases, or help from other people during games.
- Agree to be respectful toward other players.
- Agree not to create multiple accounts unless allowed by the Terms of Service.
- Agree to follow all Lichess rules and policies.
- Check the “I am human” box to confirm you’re not a bot (this uses hCaptcha, which is partially accessible and offers options for visually impaired users).
Registration is completely free and takes just a minute. Once completed, you can start playing right away.
A Note on hCaptcha Accessibility
During registration, Lichess uses hCaptcha to confirm that you’re human. This is a common security measure to prevent spam or automated account creation.
While hCaptcha is not fully accessible by default, it does offer an accessibility mode for screen reader users. If your browser has the accessibility cookie set, the challenge may be skipped automatically or presented in a more accessible way.
If you’re using a screen reader and encounter difficulty:
- Look for a link or button labeled “Accessibility options” or “I am human”.
- You may be redirected to hcaptcha.com/accessibility to register your browser for enhanced access.
Once registered, hCaptcha should remember your device and make future challenges easier to complete.
If you continue to have issues, you can temporarily ask a sighted person for help just with the captcha step. After that, Lichess itself is fully accessible and can be used independently.
3. Playing a Game
Lichess offers several ways to start a game. You can play against anyone in the world, challenge a friend, or play against the computer — all fully accessible with a screen reader.
3.1 Creating a Game with the Community
At the top of the Lichess homepage, you’ll find a link labeled “Create a game”. This opens a dialog that lets you create a public game and wait for another Lichess user to join.
Once you activate that link, you can customize the following options:
Variant
Use the arrow keys or Tab to navigate to the variant selector. Lichess supports several chess variants, all of which are accessible using screen readers. Here’s a list of the available options:
-
Standard The traditional version of chess played worldwide. Most players choose this variant.
-
Chess960 (Fischer Random) The back-rank pieces are shuffled randomly. There are 960 possible starting positions.
-
King of the Hill A player wins by bringing their king to one of the four center squares (d4, e4, d5, or e5).
-
Three-check You win by checking your opponent three times. Checkmate is not required.
-
Antichess Captures are mandatory. The goal is to lose all your pieces or get stalemated.
-
Atomic Captures cause explosions, removing surrounding pieces. Kings can’t be next to each other.
-
Horde One side has a full army, the other has a “horde” of pawns. The pawn side moves first.
-
Racing Kings There are no checks. The first player to bring their king to the 8th rank wins.
-
Crazyhouse When you capture a piece, it joins your reserves. You can place it back on the board as your own.
We recommend starting with Standard chess before exploring the other variants, especially if you are new to Blind Mode or online chess.
🛈 Note: To select a variant using the arrow keys, your screen reader must be in Focus Mode. If you’re in Browse Mode, the arrow keys will simply move you down the page rather than changing the selection. Some screen readers, like NVDA and JAWS, may enter Focus Mode automatically when you reach an interactive control like a combo box or edit box — this behavior depends on your settings. Be sure to listen for the sound or spoken feedback that indicates you’re entering or exiting Focus Mode, so you know when it’s safe to use the arrow keys for selection.
Time Control
Next, you’ll choose how time is managed during the game. Use Tab or arrow keys to select one of the following modes:
-
Real Time: A countdown clock is used. After selecting this, you’ll set:
- Minutes per side: how many total minutes each player has
- Increment: how many seconds are added after each move
-
Correspondence: Games are played over hours or days. Ideal for slower, thoughtful play.
-
Unlimited (No Clock): There is no time limit. Great for casual or teaching games.
Casual vs Rated
Next, you’ll tab to a radio button asking whether this game is:
- Casual: The result does not affect your rating
- Rated: The game will affect your Lichess rating, depending on the result
🛈 You must be logged in to play rated games.
Once all parameters are selected, press Tab to reach the “Create game” button and press Enter. Your game request will be sent to the Lichess lobby, where it will be matched with the first available player who accepts the challenge. For instance, if you set your game to 30 minutes with a 30 second increment, you will attract players that like a bit of a longer game. Depending on the parameters, it might take a few minutes for another player to play your game, but the system will let you know when the game has been accepted by another player. Generally however, someone will accept your game very quickly, usually less than a minute.
3.2 playing with friends
Alternatively, if you navigate down the homepage to heading level 2 labeled “Play”, you’ll find three main options:
the first is called Create a Game. This option works the same as the “Create a game” link at the top of the page.
The second choice is play with a friend. In addition to creating a public game, Lichess also allows you to challenge a specific player — such as a friend, a coach, or someone whose username you know. When you choose “Play With a Friend”, a dialog box opens where you can configure the same settings as before (variant, time control, rated or casual), with an additional option where you can choose which side you want to play (White, Black, or Random). After configuring these game settings, you press the “Create Game” button.
This brings you to a new page where you have multiple ways to invite someone:
-
Search for a specific username using the search field: After creating the challenge, you’ll land on a page with a search box. You can type in the Lichess username of the person you’d like to play with. As you type, matching usernames will appear. Use the arrow keys to select the correct one and press Enter to send them the challenge directly. This is ideal when you already know who you want to play with. The challenge will reach this person where they can accept or deny. If they accepted your challenge, the game screen will open with the white player ready to make their first move.
-
Pick from a list of previous opponents you’ve played with before, shown just above the search: If you’ve played games on Lichess in the past, the system remembers those players. Above the search field, you’ll find a list of usernames you’ve recently played with. You can navigate through this list using the arrow keys and choose one to re-challenge easily — no need to retype or search their name again.
-
Copy the game link by pressing the “Copy URL” button: This button copies a special link to your clipboard. You can paste it anywhere — in an email, a messaging app, or even a group chat — using Ctrl + V. The first person who clicks on this link will become your opponent and join the game. This method is great when you want to leave the challenge open for anyone interested or don’t want to target a specific user.
-
Cancel the challenge if you change your mind: If you decide not to send the challenge after all, just press the “Cancel” button. This will close the invitation and take you back to the previous screen without sending any challenge.
Accepting a Challenge
If someone sends you a challenge, and you’re currently on the Lichess website, a pop-up window will appear with a sound notification. The window will show:
- The challenger’s name
- The variant
- The time control
- Whether the game is rated or casual
You will find two buttons:
- Accept – The game starts immediately.
- Decline – If you don’t want to play, you can decline. Below this button is a combo box where you may optionally select a reason for declining.
Finding Missed Challenges
If you’re not on Lichess at the moment the challenge was sent — or if the pop-up doesn’t appear — you can still check your pending challenges manually.
From the main page:
- Press E to jump to the search field.
- Arrow down — if you have a challenge, a number will appear here.
- Press Space on that number. (Even if it’s not labeled as a link, it works.)
- This opens the challenge details, where you can then choose Accept or Decline.
3.3 Play with the Computer
Choose this option to play against a Lichess chess engine.
You’ll be able to:
- Choose the variant
- Select the engine difficulty, from 1 (beginner) to 8 (very strong)
- Set your side: White, Black, or Random
Once you finalize your choices, press the Create game button, and the game will begin instantly.
4. making moves
For demonstration purposes, let’s begin by creating a simple game against the computer:
- Go to “Play with the computer”
- Choose the Standard variant
- Set the time control to Unlimited
- Choose to play as White
This setup gives us all the time we need to practice without pressure.
Once the game is created, your screen reader may automatically place focus in a text field labeled something like:
"Your move, edit field"
or"Command input"
This field is where you will enter your chess moves or keyboard commands. It is commonly referred to as the Command Input Field.
Depending on your screen reader settings:
- You may automatically enter Focus Mode
- Or you may need to manually switch to Focus Mode to start typing (e.g.,
NVDA + Space
,Insert + Z
, or turning off QuickNav)
We will explore this input field in more detail in the next section, but for now, let’s look at what else appears on the page.
4.1 Page Structure and Headings
Lichess pages are organized using headings. When a game starts, the main content of the page begins with a Heading Level 1. When you are at the top of the page, pressing the number 1
in Browse Mode will take you straight there.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll find as you move through the page using the H
key:
Heading Level 1: Game Title
Example:
You play the white pieces Casual correspondence Game vs Stockfish level 1
This heading confirms:
- Your color (White or Black)
- The type of game (Casual or Rated)
- The time control (Real time, Correspondence, Unlimited)
- Your opponent (e.g., Stockfish level 1, or another player)
Heading Level 2: Game Info
Displays player names and ratings: Example:
White: YourUserName 1500
Black: TheirUserName 1556
Casual correspondence
Heading Level 2: Move List
As the game progresses, moves are added to this list. It starts empty and updates after each move.
Use arrow keys or Down Arrow
in Browse Mode to read through them.
Heading Level 2: Pieces
This section lists the locations of all pieces on the board in plain language. It’s broken down by player:
-
Heading Level 3: White Example:
King: eva 1, Queen: david 1, Rooks: anna 1, hector 1, …
-
Heading Level 3: Black Same structure for Black’s pieces.
This section is especially helpful for screen reader users to get a quick overview of the current position without using the board navigation.
Heading Level 2: Game Status
Indicates the current state of the game:
- “Playing right now”
- Could later change to “white wins by checkmate”, “Draw”, etc.
Heading Level 2: Last Move
Announces the last move played in plain text. At the start of the game, this will say “Game start”, and will update after each move.
Heading Level 2: Input Form
This is where the command input field is located — where you type your moves like e4
, or commands like C
for clocks.
We’ll explore this in detail in the next section.
Heading Level 2: Clocks
In timed games, a section labeled Clocks displays the remaining time for both players. This helps you keep track of how much time is left for each side to make their moves. The time is updated live as the game progresses.
Note that this section is not visible in unlimited games, where there is no time control.
Heading Level 2: Actions
This section contains several buttons that allow you to control or end the game. These buttons are located near the bottom of the page and are accessible by pressing B
in Browse Mode or by tabbing.
-
Abort Game: This button appears only at the start of the game, before any moves have been played. Pressing it will cancel the game immediately and remove it from your history. It does not require confirmation.
-
Offer Draw: This option is available only when playing against a human opponent. It sends a draw request, and your opponent can choose to accept or decline it. If you are playing against the computer, the “Offer Draw” button will be greyed out.
-
Resign: Pressing this button ends the game immediately and awards the win to your opponent. It is executed right away without a confirmation message.
-
Takeback: This button appears once at least one move has been made. It allows you to undo the last move. If you’re playing against the computer, the takeback is applied instantly. If you’re playing against a human, a takeback request is sent, and your opponent must accept it before the move is undone.
These actions are helpful when something goes wrong, when you want to end the game respectfully, or when correcting a mistake in casual play.
Heading Level 2: Board
This section contains the actual 8×8 grid of the chessboard, where the game is played. You can navigate it directly or interact with it using commands, as we will explore later.
Heading Level 2: Advanced Settings
This section allows you to adjust how pieces and square names are announced. Since these settings affect how you experience the board and game feedback, it’s helpful to review and configure them before you begin playing.
4.2 Understanding and Adjusting Board Settings
In the Advanced Settings section, you can customize how information is presented on the screen and how moves and squares are announced. These settings affect both the spoken feedback from your screen reader and the layout of the board. It’s recommended to review them before you begin playing.
Below are the key options and what they do:
Move Notation
Move notation determines how chess moves are spoken and displayed — for example, in the move list, or the last move announcement.
You can choose from the following styles:
-
Anna: Example: knight takes filex3 Uses special spoken-friendly phonetics (anna for A, bella for B, caesar for c etc.) and square names like “felix3”. Useful for players who are used to phonetic or tactile board systems.
-
NATO: Example: knight takes foxtrot3 Uses the NATO phonetic alphabet — alpha, bravo, charlie, etc. May be more familiar to users in military or aviation contexts.
-
Literate: Example: knight takes f6 Spoken using regular letter names and numbers. Easy to understand and natural-sounding.
-
SAN (Standard Algebraic Notation): Example: Nxf3 Compact and traditional chess notation used in books and websites. N = Knight, x = capture, f3 = destination square.
-
UCI (Coordinate Notation): Example: g1f3 Describes moves using the starting and ending square. More technical, often used in engine interfaces.
🛈 This setting affects how moves are shown in the move list, last move, and how your screen reader reads your move input from the command field or the board.
Page Layout
This setting changes the position of the actions section (Abort, Resign, etc.) in relation to the chessboard.
- Actions/Board: The buttons appear above the chessboard.
- Board/Actions: The buttons appear below the chessboard.
Choose the one that feels more natural for your navigation style. Some users prefer having the controls closer to the input field or board.
Board Settings
These settings control how pieces and squares are announced as you navigate the chessboard itself — the actual 8×8 grid. They do not affect the move list, the command field, or any other page element. They are especially important if you prefer to move square by square using the board instead of typing your moves.
Each option below determines how much information you hear, how it’s structured, and how your screen reader interprets the board.
Piece Style
This setting controls how the piece itself is spoken when you land on a square containing a piece:
-
Letter: Announces a lowercase letter representing the piece, such as
p
for pawn orn
for knight. -
White Uppercase Letter: Same as above, but white pieces are displayed in uppercase (e.g.,
P
for white pawn,r
for black rook). Helps distinguish colors by case. -
Name: The piece’s full name is spoken, such as “pawn”, “rook”, or “bishop”.
-
White Uppercase Name: displays the white piece name in uppercase. Example:
Pawn
for white,pawn
for black.
Example: If you move to square c2 with a white pawn:
- Letter:
p
- White Uppercase Letter:
P
- Name:
pawn
- white uppercase Name:
Pawn
Piece Prefix Style
This determines how the color of the piece is announced:
-
Letter:
w
for white,b
for black. For example:wP
for white pawn -
Name: Says “white” or “black” before the piece name or letter. For example: “white pawn”
-
None: The color is not announced at all — only the piece is spoken.
This setting is useful if you prefer faster navigation or already know whose turn it is or if you use upperCase to differintiate colors.
Show Position
This controls the order in which the square and the piece are spoken when you navigate the board:
-
Before: The square name comes first, followed by the piece. Example:
c2: white pawn
-
After: The piece is announced first, followed by the square name. Example:
white pawn: c2
-
None: The square name is not included — only the piece is announced.
Board Layout
This controls the HTML structure of the board and how it behaves with your screen reader:
-
Plain: A simplified layout with no semantic structure (no table, no row/column headers). This layout works best in Focus Mode and is usually faster and more responsive when using arrow keys to navigate.
-
Table: The board is presented as a real HTML table, with each rank and file represented by rows and columns. Best used with Browse Mode and screen readers that support table navigation keys, such as:
- NVDA:
Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys
- JAWS:
Alt + Ctrl + Arrow Keys
- VoiceOver:
VO + Arrow Keys
within tables
- NVDA:
If you prefer using keyboard shortcuts to move by column or row, or want clear positional context (like “row 7, column D”), table layout is helpful. If you prioritize speed and simple key movement, the plain layout is likely better.
4.3 The Command Input Field
One of the most important elements of Lichess Blind Mode is the Command Input Field — a text box where you can type chess moves, game commands, or special shortcuts to interact with the game.
This field appears in the section labeled “Input Form” (you can reach it by pressing e
to jump to the edit fields directly). Screen readers often announce it as: "Your move, edit "
or "Command input, edit box"
To type in this field, your screen reader must be in Focus Mode (Forms Mode or Interaction Mode). If you’re still in Browse Mode, your keystrokes will not be registered as input.
Entering Moves: Algebraic Notation
The command input field uses algebraic notation, which is the standard way of writing chess moves.
Examples:
e4
– move a pawn to square e4Nf3
– move a knight to f3O-O
– kingside castlingO-O-O
– queenside castlingexd5
– capture a piece on d5 with a pawn from the e-fileQh5+
– move the queen to h5 with check
If you’re unfamiliar with algebraic notation, you can read this simple, accessible guide: Understanding Algebraic Notation
Typing one of these notations in the command field and pressing Enter will execute the move on the board.
Using Game Commands
In addition to moves, you can type a variety of single-letter or word-based commands in the command field. These commands provide game information or allow you to navigate the position. Here’s a full list with explanations:
-
C [clock]
– Read both clocks (your time and your opponent’s). Your time is announced first. You can also type the word Clock if you wish. -
L [last]
– Announce the last move played on the board. You can also type the word “last” Instead. -
P [piece]
– List the locations of all pieces of a given type. Example:P N
(capital N) announces the squares of white knights;P q
(lowercase q) lists black queens. This means that the capital letters refer to the white pieces, and the small letters refer to the blac, ones. p for pawns, r for rooks, n for knights, b for bishops, q for queen, and k for king. You can now also announce the locations of all pieces for a given color using P A (capital letter) for white and p a (small letter) for black. -
S [rank/file]
– Read all pieces in a specific row or column. Example:S 1
reads all pieces on the first rank.S a
reads all pieces on file A. -
O
– Announce the opponent’s username and rating. -
Board
orB
– Move focus to the chessboard. You can optionally specify a square, e.g.,board a1
orb a1
to jump to square a1. The default square ise4
. remember to leave a space between the command and the square name. -
Abort
– Abort the current game. Only works before any move is made. -
Resign
– Immediately resigns the game. -
Draw
– Offer a draw to your opponent or accept a draw offer (only works in human games). -
Takeback
– Request a takeback. Instantly accepted by the computer; requires approval from a human opponent. -
Promotion using
=
– To promote a pawn to something other than a queen, useequals
. Example:a8=R
promotes a pawn to a rook on a8,b1=k
promotes to a knight.⚠️ Commands must be typed exactly and followed by Enter. Some screen readers may not announce repeated output if the command result hasn’t changed. If you typed any incorrect command, you will get a message telling you that this is an invalid move.
The command input field is especially useful for players who use a physical chessboard to feel the position and decide their moves by touch. Once they’ve chosen a move, they can quickly type it into the field using standard algebraic notation. It’s also ideal for players who rely on mental visualization, sometimes called blindfold chess, where they track the game in their mind and enter moves directly.
For example, when you start the game and type e4
, the move is submitted instantly, and if you’re playing against the computer, it will respond almost immediately. Since it doesn’t think like a human, it usually plays its reply without delay. However, if you’re playing against a human opponent, you might have to wait — especially in slower time controls or as the game becomes more complex.
Lichess can announce square names and moves in different styles, such as the Anna method, which uses phonetic letters like “eva 7” instead of “e7”. These spoken formats are fully customizable in the Advanced Settings section, where you can choose how piece names, colors, and square names are announced as you navigate the board or listen to moves.
4.4 Navigating the Chessboard
In addition to using the command input field, you can directly interact with the 8×8 chessboard using your screen reader and keyboard. This method allows you to explore each square, select pieces, and make moves manually by pressing the Spacebar.
-
Use arrow keys or shortcut commands to move across the board square by square.
-
When your focus is on a square containing one of your pieces, press Space to select it.
- You’ll hear a confirmation sound to indicate that the piece is selected.
-
Then move to the destination square using arrows or shortcuts and press Space again to complete the move.
-
If you make a mistake or change your mind, you don’t need to manually cancel your selection. Simply navigate to another square and press Space to select a new piece — the previous selection will be automatically cleared.
This method is especially useful for players who like to explore the position physically and prefer direct interaction over typing moves.
Board Navigation Commands
Below is a list of keyboard shortcuts that work while the chessboard is focused. These help you gather game information or move quickly around the board.
-
i
– Move focus to the command input field. Use this if you prefer to type a move instead of navigating the board. -
o
– Announce the current square and the piece (if any) on it. For example: “david 4, white bishop”. -
c
– Announce the piece captured in the last move (if any). Useful for tracking exchanges. -
l
– Read the last move made on the board. For example: “Knight to gustav 5”. -
t
– Announce both clocks — your time is always announced first. -
m
– After selecting a piece, pressm
to hear all possible legal moves for that piece. The list is read out based on current game rules. -
Shift + m
– After selecting a piece, press this to hear only the possible captures the piece can make.
Quick Navigation Shortcuts
These shortcuts help you jump to specific types of squares or positions without using arrow keys:
-
k, q, r, b, n, p
– Jump to squares containing a specific type of piece:k
: kingq
: queenr
: rookb
: bishopn
: knightp
: pawn Press the letter repeatedly to cycle through matching pieces. Use the uppercase version (e.g.,K
) to reverse the search direction.
-
1
to8
– Jump directly to a rank (row) on the board. For example, pressing2
moves you to rank 2. -
Shift + 1
toShift + 8
– Jump to a file (column) froma
toh
. For example,Shift + 3
takes you to filec
. -
Shift + A
/Shift + D
– Step backward or forward through the move history. This lets you review past moves without leaving the board.
These commands allow for a hands-on, responsive experience, especially useful when reviewing games, planning attacks, or simply navigating comfortably.
Reading Ranks, Files, and Diagonals from the Current Square
When focused on any square on the board, you can explore all possible straight-line directions (rays) radiating from that square using the following commands. This is particularly useful for blind mode users to understand threats, control, and piece positions in all directions.
-
Press
x
to read the diagonal rays, starting with the top-right direction and moving clockwise: top-right → bottom-right → bottom-left → top-left. -
Press
Alt + x
to read the vertical and horizontal rays, starting from the top and moving clockwise: top → right → bottom → left. -
Hold
Shift
with either command (Shift + x
orShift + Alt + x
) to reverse the direction, moving counter-clockwise. -
Repeating the same key combination again (while staying on the same square) will advance to the next direction in the sequence.
-
You can freely alternate between
x
andAlt + x
to scan diagonals, files, and ranks in any order, without needing to move the focus square.
This system gives you a full 360-degree awareness of the board from any given position — a powerful tool for spatial reasoning and tactical evaluation.
Practice Scenario: Playing a Simple Opening with the Board
Let’s say you’re playing as White in a game against the computer. You’ve just created the game, and the board is focused.
Your goal is to play the common opening move pawn to e4 using the board interface.
-
Navigate to the pawn on e2:
- Use your arrow keys to move through the board.
- When your screen reader announces “eva 2, white pawn” (depending on your settings), you are on the correct square.
-
Select the pawn:
- Press Spacebar. You will hear a sound confirming the pawn is selected.
-
Move to e4:
- Press the up Arrow twice to reach eva 4 (e4).
- Your screen reader should say “eva 4”.
-
Place the piece:
- Press Spacebar again. The move is made: your pawn moves from e2 to e4.
-
Listen to the result:
- Lichess will announce the move and the computer’s response immediately. For example: “You played pawn to eva 4. Black played pawn to eva 5.”
- Press
l
to repeat the last move if you missed it. - Press
t
to check your clock and the opponent’s time. You will usually hear nothing useful if you previously selected the unlimited time control while creating the game, as this type of game works without clocks. - If you want to know all the legal moves for a piece before committing, select the piece and press
m
. - If you want to move using the command field instead, press
i
to jump to the input form and typee4
.
important notes
-
Note about repeated screen reader output: Depending on your screen reader settings, if the text output from Lichess is exactly the same as the previous message, it may not be read aloud again. For example, if you press
L
to hear the last move, and then pressL
again without any change on the board, you might not hear anything — even though the command was accepted. This applies to commands issued in the command input as well as the board. This can also happen during gameplay. For instance, if White captures on d4, and then Black immediately does the same, the screen reader might not announce Black’s move because the spoken output is identical to the previous one. You will still hear a move sound effect, but no spoken feedback. To work around this, you can issue a different command (likeT
to hear the clocks), then pressL
again to refresh the spoken output. -
refreshing during games: If your opponent appears to be taking too long to move — even though their clock is ticking — it may be that the page didn’t update correctly. In such cases, press F5 to refresh the page. After refreshing: If it’s your move, your screen reader will announce that it’s your turn. If your opponent still hasn’t moved, it will say “waiting for opponent.”
-
leaving a game accidentally: if you happened to leave a game while being in the middle of playing it, you can go back to Lichess’s home page, where you will find a heading called “ongoing games”. Down arrow from there, and you will find the game you left. Just activate the join button to return to it and make your move.
5. Analysis
When a game concludes, the interface will change to reflect the final result — for example:
“1–0 Checkmate • White is victorious”
5.1 Post-Game Actions
The list of available actions will update and include:
- Rematch: Starts a new game with the same opponent using the same settings but with reversed colors.
- New opponent: Searches for a new opponent using the same game parameters.
- Analysis board: Opens a detailed review of the finished game. This is a powerful tool for reviewing your performance move-by-move.
Note: While some parts of the analysis board are still not fully accessible, much of it is usable with a screen reader, and we will cover all accessible features in this section.
5.2 Analysis Board Overview
When you activate the Analysis board, the page title updates to include:
-
The names of both players.
-
The name of the opening used in the game (e.g., Sicilian Defense).
Beginner’s tip: A chess opening refers to the initial sequence of moves that shape the early stage of the game. Openings follow common patterns that help players develop their pieces and control the board. Learning openings can provide a solid foundation for the rest of the game.
The layout of the page is similar to the regular game screen, but with some new components.
5.3 Computer Analysis Section
Just below the command input form, you’ll find:
-
Checkbox: Enable local engine evaluation
- By default, this is unchecked.
- If checked, you will see the engine evaluation (e.g.,
+1.3
) for the current position using Stockfish 17.1 in your local browser. - Engine evaluation: A numerical estimate of which side is better in a given position. A positive number means an advantage for White, while a negative number means an advantage for Black. The value is typically measured in centipawns (1.00 = one pawn advantage).
-
Engine Settings (Advanced users)
- Allows customizing the engine behavior, such as depth and evaluation speed.
- Most users can ignore this section unless they understand engine configurations.
-
“Request Computer Analysis” Button
- Sends your game to the Lichess servers for deeper analysis.
- Once submitted, you’ll hear: “Server-side analysis in progress”.
- After a moment, you’ll hear: “Server-side analysis complete”, and several new elements appear.
5.4 Analyzing Mistakes
Now that the game is analyzed, Lichess will provide feedback directly in the Move List. You’ll hear things like:
7. Bc4 Blunder. Best move was Bd3. 10. Bb4 Blunder. Best move was dxc4.
Each move is annotated with:
- Inaccuracy: A move that is slightly weaker than the best.
- Mistake: A clearly worse move that loses an advantage.
- Blunder: A significantly bad move that may cost the game.
Average Centipawn Loss (ACPL)
Below the Computer Analysis heading, you’ll find two level 3 headings:
- White player: 62 Average centipawn loss
- Black player: 48 Average centipawn loss
ACPL measures the average difference (in hundredths of a pawn) between your moves and the engine’s top suggestion. Lower is better — elite players have ACPL below 20.
Each player has a combo box listing their inaccurate or poor moves. Selecting a move jumps the board to that position.
5.5 PGN and FEN Downloads
Below the board, you’ll find the Downloads section (Heading level 2):
-
PGN (Portable Game Notation): A widely used text format that records an entire chess game, including player names, moves, results, and optional commentary. It allows you to save, share, or replay games on any chess platform that supports PGN.
- Copy PGN to clipboard: Share or save the full game with annotations.
- Download annotated: Download the game including move comments and analysis.
- Download raw: Download the game without analysis.
-
FEN (Forsyth-Edwards Notation): A concise string that represents a specific board position, including piece placement, turn to move, castling rights, en passant targets, and move counters. Useful for resuming games or analyzing particular positions.
- Copy FEN to clipboard: Useful for resuming or studying a position.
5.6 Keyboard Shortcuts (Analysis Mode)
When focused anywhere except the board, the following shortcuts are available in Focus Mode:
- Arrow keys: Move forward/backward through the game moves.
- Space: Play the best computer move.
- C: Announce engine evaluation.
- X: Show tactical threats.
- L: Toggle local engine evaluation.
- Z: Toggle server engine analysis.
While focused on the chess board, several keyboard shortcuts become available that help you explore and explain positions more effectively:
-
Shift + A / D
: Moves backward or forward through the game’s moves. You can use this to retrace the game one move at a time — useful for reviewing mistakes or showing how a position developed. -
Alt + Shift + A / D
: Cycles through variations or alternate lines that were suggested by the engine during analysis. If a move was marked as a mistake or blunder, the engine often recommends a better line. These shortcuts allow you to explore those better paths and understand why your original move wasn’t ideal.
5.7 Command Input in Analysis
All the regular game commands still work, plus a few more:
eval
: Speak the engine’s evaluation of the current move.best
: Announce the top engine move suggestion relative to the current position.prev
/next
: Go to the previous or next move.prev line
/next line
: Switch between different variations or recommended lines.
These allow you to explore alternate paths the engine suggests — especially useful after a mistake or blunder.
6. Puzzles
Lichess offers a rich collection of chess puzzles—short tactical problems based on real games—designed to help you sharpen your skills and recognize common patterns like forks, pins, skewers, and mates. Solving puzzles regularly can greatly improve your calculation and decision-making during actual games.
At the top of the Lichess homepage, you’ll find a “Puzzles” heading in the main menu. It contains several useful links:
-
Puzzles: Launches random puzzles tailored to your current rating. These test your tactical skills and adapt in difficulty as your rating improves.
-
Puzzle Themes: Lets you choose puzzles by theme. For example:
- Fork: Find a move that attacks two pieces at once.
- Mate in 1: Deliver checkmate in a single move.
- Discovered Attack: Move a piece to reveal an attack from behind.
-
Puzzle Dashboard: A personalized page that tracks your puzzle rating, accuracy, and performance trends.
When a puzzle loads, you’ll see a familiar interface similar to a normal game. Use the command input or board navigation to make your move.
If you’re stuck, you have options:
- Press the “View Solution” button in the Actions section to reveal the correct answer.
- Press
V
in the command input to achieve the same. - Once solved, use the “Continue” button, which is found under the actions heading, to move to the next puzzle.
In the Settings section of the page, there’s a difficulty combo box where you can choose the puzzle level, ranging from easiest to hardest, depending on how much challenge you want.
Puzzles are a fun and efficient way to build your tactical strength—especially helpful when paired with engine analysis and regular gameplay.
7. Broadcasts
One of the most exciting features of Lichess is the Broadcasts section, which allows users to follow live games from top-level chess tournaments around the world in real time. This includes world-class events like the World Championship, Chess Olympiad, World Cup, Candidates Tournament, and many more regional, national, or youth tournaments. These events cover various time controls, such as classical, rapid, blitz, and bullet formats.
Watching live games gives players the chance to study professional-level play as it unfolds—move by move. It’s a great way to observe different styles, understand high-level decision making, and see how grandmasters handle pressure. With Lichess’s accessible interface, blind and visually impaired users can enjoy this experience equally.
Accessing Broadcasts
From the top menu, choose “Watch”, then activate the “Broadcasts” link. This takes you to a page with all currently running and upcoming tournament broadcasts, as well as archives of past tournaments that can be replayed at any time.
The “Live Broadcasts” section is under heading level 1. Use browse mode heading navigation to reach it quickly.
Each listed tournament shows whether it is live or upcoming. When focused on a tournament name, press the Up Arrow once to hear how much time is left until it begins—or if it’s currently in progress.
Following a Tournament Game
When you open a tournament broadcast, the first heading will typically be “Study Details” (heading level 1). Here, you can use combo boxes to choose exactly which game to follow. These may include:
- Group: For example, Open, Women, Boys, or Girls, depending on the event structure.
- Round: The specific round of the tournament you want to explore.
- Chapter: The individual games or boards available for the selected group and round.
Once you make your selections in the combo boxes, the page updates to load that particular game.
Viewing the Game
You’ll now see a familiar interface, similar to a regular game or analysis page:
- Use the command input field or navigate the board just like before.
- Under the Computer Analysis section, you can enable engine evaluation to see who’s better and what the best moves are.
- The evaluation bar and move suggestions provide insight into how the players are performing at every stage.
- If the game is ongoing, moves will update in real time. If it has finished, you’ll also be able to see inaccuracies, mistakes, and blunders, with best move suggestions.
Tournament Details and Results
At the bottom of the page, there is another heading level 1 titled “Tournament Details”, which includes:
- A description of the tournament
- Notable players
- External links to official websites or results pages
Below this is a ranking table showing the current standings of all players in the event, sorted by performance. This table is fully accessible and readable with screen readers.
8. Studies
Studies on Lichess are one of the most powerful and flexible tools for learning and teaching chess. A study is like a multimedia notebook that can contain games, puzzles, annotations, text commentary, and variations. It’s perfect for preparing lessons, analyzing games, sharing ideas with friends or students, or simply studying your own progress.
Lichess offers a wide range of study types created by users around the world. Some studies are public, meaning anyone can view and learn from them, while others are private, shared only with specific users or study groups. You’ll find studies focused on openings, endgames, tactical motifs, historical games, and even interactive lessons with embedded puzzles. Some users also use studies to annotate their tournament games, run online classes, or collaborate with coaches and students. Whether you’re a beginner or a master, there’s a study out there tailored to your level and interests.
You can read the official Lichess blog post introducing studies here: Study Chess the Lichess Way
How Studies Work
on the top menu, there is a “learn” heading, below it are some learning-related tools. Arrow down through these links until you reach studies, and activate it. You will land in a page containing several studies categories, browse them at your convenience and see what could be of interest to you.
When you open a study, the interface will look familiar—it resembles the broadcast or analysis pages:
-
At the top, there are usually combo boxes to help you navigate:
- Group: Organizes games or materials by category (e.g., openings, tactics, endgames).
- Round: May be used in tournament-like studies or lesson series.
- Chapter: Each chapter is an individual section of the study, like a specific game or training topic.
Just like in broadcasts, selecting the group, round, or chapter updates the content below automatically.
Reading Notes and Annotations
One of the key strengths of studies is that they allow authors to add annotations, move comments, and commentary text alongside the game.
- All of this content appears in the move list, and is fully readable with screen readers in browse mode.
- As you navigate through the moves, you’ll hear the move itself and any text the study creator has added—such as “This was a blunder,” “Black should try c5 next,” or “Typical positional idea.”
This makes studies especially valuable for blind players, coaches, or learners, as all the instructional content is accessible and clearly structured.
9. Miscellaneous Features
Lichess is far more than just a place to play chess. It’s a massive platform with a wide range of features and tools that serve players of all levels — from casual learners to professional competitors. While we’ve focused primarily on core gameplay and Blind Mode navigation in this tutorial, it’s important to highlight some of the many other services and community functions the site offers. These tools can enrich your chess experience, help you connect with others, and support your personal growth in the game.
In the following items, we’ll briefly explore some of these features. While they may not be directly tied to Blind Mode, they are screen reader accessible and can be navigated using the same techniques we’ve introduced.
9.1. Teams on Lichess
Teams on Lichess are online chess communities where players with shared interests, nationalities, clubs, or goals come together. They allow members to participate in team tournaments, post messages, and engage in group activities.
Joining or creating a team is a great way to build community, join regular competitions, and stay connected with other players.
To access the Teams page:
- Go to the top of the page.
- Press H until you reach the heading “Community.”
- Arrow down to find the “Teams” link and press Enter.
On the Teams page, you can:
- Browse existing teams: Search by name or explore featured or popular ones.
- Read team descriptions: See what the team is about, whether it’s for casual play, a school club, a regional community, or a national team.
- Join a team: Some teams are open to everyone; others may require approval from a team leader.
- Create your own team: Choose a name, set a description, and decide whether it will be open or invite-only.
- Participate in team battles: Many teams host regular tournaments or friendly matches against other teams. These often appear under the Tournaments tab.
9.2. Arena Tournaments on Lichess
Lichess makes it easy to participate in fast-paced, competitive chess through Arena Tournaments, which are fully accessible with screen readers.
To access Arena Tournaments:
- From the top of the Lichess page, locate the “Create a game” link.
- Just below it, you’ll find a link called “Arena Tournaments.” Press Enter to access it.
On the Tournaments page, you can:
- Browse active and upcoming tournaments.
- Join a tournament with a single click — no extra registration needed.
- Create your own tournament if you are logged in.
Arena tournaments are especially dynamic because:
- Players keep getting paired automatically as soon as they finish a game.
- You don’t need to wait for a new round — you can play as many games as time allows within the tournament duration.
- Scoring rewards speed and winning streaks. For example, if you win two or more games in a row, your next win may count for double points.
Lichess also offers Swiss tournaments, which are typically created by team leaders and can only be joined by members of that team. Unlike Arena tournaments — where players are paired continuously and can play as many games as possible within the tournament duration — Swiss tournaments follow a structured round-based system, where each player plays the same number of games and rounds begin at the same time for everyone. This makes Swiss tournaments more suitable for formal and balanced competition settings. Both formats are fully accessible, but Arena tournaments are often more casual and fast-paced, while Swiss tournaments provide a more traditional tournament experience.
9.3. import games
Lichess provides a powerful Import Game feature, allowing users to paste or upload a game in PGN (Portable Game Notation) format to get a fully interactive replay. Once imported, you can:
- Navigate through the moves using the keyboard or board.
- Request computer analysis to evaluate mistakes, blunders, and best moves.
- Access a publicly shareable link to send the game to others.
- Read or add comments via the game chat area.
You can choose to paste the PGN into the text box or upload a PGN file from your device. There’s also a checkbox to request immediate computer analysis. Keep in mind that imported games are publicly accessible unless imported through a study.
9.4. Chat
Lichess includes a built-in chat feature that allows users to communicate during games, while spectating, or when following live tournament broadcasts.
- During a game, the chat box is located just before the game information section. You can jump to it using the E key to navigate between edit fields.
- In a broadcast, the chat is found at the bottom of the page, below the board and game details.
- The most recent messages appear above the chat box, not below it.
- To send a message, type in the chat field and press Enter — your message will be posted immediately.
- Incoming chat messages are automatically read aloud by screen readers. This can be helpful for staying engaged, but may also become distracting — especially during broadcasts when you want to focus on analyzing moves rather than reading comments.
- To manage this, press H to reach the “Chat” heading (level 1). Just below it, there’s a “Live board” tab. Pressing this will hide the chat widget entirely.
- You can return to the chat at any time by pressing the “Live chat” tab.
If you prefer to disable chat altogether, you can do so from your Privacy settings under User Preferences.
Here’s a refined and structured version of the paragraph:
9.5. Your Account
One of the great features of Lichess is that it automatically tracks all your activity on the site — from games and puzzles to studies and forum posts.
To access your profile:
- Click on your username from the main page (usually found at the end of the top menu, below the challenges and notifications), then press Enter on “Profile”.
Your profile page provides a wealth of information, including:
-
Your ratings for each chess variant you’ve played.
-
Your puzzle rating and progress.
-
The number of studies you’ve created or contributed to.
-
Forum posts and community activity.
-
Detailed game history for each variant:
- You can see your best victories, toughest defeats, and the average rating of your opponents.
- Filter your games by time control, opponent strength, color, and result.
The best way to discover everything your profile has to offer is simply to explore. Don’t worry — you can’t break anything by looking around.
9.6. Many more
Here’s a list of other useful and interesting Lichess features that you may explore. While not all are essential for blind users, many are fully accessible and can enhance your experience on the platform:
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Customizing your Profile: You can add a bio, change your username (once), upload an avatar, manage preferences, and adjust website behavior and so on.
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Following Other Players: You can follow friends, top players, and streamers. Their activity will appear in your dashboard and you can spectate their games easily.
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Explore Games: View recent games by other users, browse top games of the day, or watch master games. Use the search and filter tools to focus on specific openings, players, or time controls.
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Lichess Blog: The official Lichess blog covers feature updates, community stories, tournament news, and several announcements. It’s a great way to stay informed.
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Opening Explorer: Study how chess openings are played across millions of games by masters and users. Filter by rating, time control, or era.
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Learn Section: Includes Chess Basics, Practice, Coordinates Training, and Learn From Your Mistakes — ideal for improving your skills. Some are partially accessible and being improved.
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Practice Against the Computer: Set up custom board positions and play against Stockfish at any strength.
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Leaderboard & Rankings: See top players in bullet, blitz, rapid, classical, puzzles, and more. Filter by country or time frame.
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Lichess TV: Automatically spectate top-rated games in real time.
10. Contributions
Lichess is open-source and constantly evolving thanks to the contributions and feedback from its users — including screen reader users like you.
If you found this guide helpful and want to contribute to improving it or reporting issues related to accessibility, here are some ways to get involved:
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Suggest Edits or Improvements to This Guide: If you notice any mistakes or think certain areas could be better explained, feel free to suggest edits or share feedback. Contributions from other blind or visually impaired users are especially valuable in making this guide better for everyone.
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Report Bugs or Accessibility Issues:
- Visit the Lichess GitHub repository.
- You can create a new issue explaining the problem you’re facing.
- Be clear and detailed — include what screen reader you’re using, the browser, and steps to reproduce the issue.
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Request Features or Join Accessibility Discussions:
- Participate in the Lichess Feedback Forum.
- Share your experience, request improvements, or join ongoing conversations about accessibility and user interface behavior.
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Stay Informed and Connected:
- Follow updates on Lichess blogs or social media to stay aware of new features that may impact accessibility.
- Engage with the wider Lichess community — developers are very receptive and supportive of improving accessibility for everyone.
Your feedback helps not just yourself but many others in the blind and visually impaired chess community.
This guide was prepared by Ekramy Medad. For feedback, collaboration, or contributions, you can connect with me on GitHub.