I noticed I panick less with zen mode on as I try to play the best move no matter what's going on. I could be playing a beginner 300 or a super gm but I actually feel less stressed, even if I lose I just think "Must be a higher rated player" and move on without tilting. Sure, this doesn't mean that I'm extremely good at chess but without the zen mode I could tilt like crazy. Is this good? As I feel like playing with zen mode is like using training wheels and without them I'll trip and lose! Is it a good practice?
It may allow you to play without fear or conceit against players rated much higher or lower than you. So you learn to play better chess and can use what you learn even otb where there is no zen mode and in the mix with fear and conceit. But I would much prefer to lose fear and conceit by means of reasoning than by "zen" mode. Is 'zen' zen?
If zen mode helps you to stay zen then I don’t see why you shouldn’t keeping playing with zen mode on.That said, zen mode isn’t available in OTB games so it may be good to practice without zen mode online.Start off with playing casual games without zen mode if that helps.
Personally, I hate the uncertainty associated with zen mode as I like to vary my play in accordance with my opponents’ ratings e.g when i get matched with a 2400/2500 in bullet, I usually play solid openings but when I’m paired with lower rated opponents I like to experiment with openings etc.
Zen mode is one of the things Lichess got dead right. The board and the clocks is all I want to see. Even chess dot com had to leave avatars, names and whatnot in view to distract us.
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