at least put back option to choose black , plz ...
@RickRenegade said in #307:
> Ah so the question does remain then. - Why not have the option in casual games?
I think someone else came up with a pretty good argument on that: If the absue of choosing color causes some type of unfairness or other types of issues, keeping the option in casual games would persist these problems. From a fair-play perspective you could say that, even if someone only plays casual, they should still be given the same level-playingfield as the rated players: with even distribution of black and white games against all opponents.
It's worth noting that they did not remove the option entirely, you can still invite people to play a game with you and choose the color
> Why not have the option to choose Black?
Probably for the same reason,
I have been an avid user of this platform for years, and I’ve always appreciated the variety and freedom that Lichess offers. One of the most important features for me was the ability to choose the color I wanted to play when creating a new game. This freedom was an essential part of the playing experience, allowing each player to start a game under conditions that suited them best.
That’s why I find it difficult to understand why Lichess has now removed this option. Instead of having the choice to play as Black or White, the color assignment is now left to chance. While this may seem like a minor change at first glance, for many players – myself included – this represents a significant reduction in the platform's value.
My Arguments Against the Change:
- Ignoring Individual Preferences: Each of us has our own preferences and strengths in chess. Some prefer to play White, others Black. By removing the color choice, Lichess takes away this personal preference, making it harder for players to perform at their best and enjoy the game to the fullest.
- Limiting Freedom of Choice: Lichess has always been a platform where players could set their own game conditions. Whether it’s the game time, rating method, or color choice – every decision was in the hands of the players. This freedom has been a hallmark of the platform. Now, without a clear reason, this freedom is being taken away.
- No Disadvantage to Other Players: The option to choose color was always a mutual decision. Both players had the freedom to accept or decline a game offer based on conditions that suited them. There was no compulsion or unfair advantage. So why should this option be removed?
- Negative Impact on Specialized Players: Like many of you, I have developed my own playing style. I have been playing almost exclusively as Black since childhood and feel most comfortable with it. When I am suddenly forced to play as White, I feel my performance is impaired because I cannot recognize positions and patterns as quickly as I’m used to. For players like me, this is a major disadvantage and significantly reduces the enjoyment of the game.
- Unnecessary Game Abandonments and Penalties: To maintain my preferred conditions, I would now have to abandon every game where I do not play as Black. But too many game abandonments lead to penalties like a ban. This is unfair and frustrating, especially since this situation has been caused by an unnecessary change.
Lichess should continue to be a platform that allows players the freedom to follow their own preferences. The removal of color choice is, in my view, a step in the wrong direction. I urge the Lichess team to reconsider this change and give players the option to set up their games as they prefer.
Couldn't lichess re-introduce the choice of the color for unrated games?
@teddyd said in #310:
> I have been an avid user of this platform for years, and I’ve always appreciated the variety and freedom that Lichess offers. One of the most important features for me was the ability to choose the color I wanted to play when creating a new game. This freedom was an essential part of the playing experience, allowing each player to start a game under conditions that suited them best.
>
> That’s why I find it difficult to understand why Lichess has now removed this option. Instead of having the choice to play as Black or White, the color assignment is now left to chance. While this may seem like a minor change at first glance, for many players – myself included – this represents a significant reduction in the platform's value.
>
> My Arguments Against the Change:
>
> - Ignoring Individual Preferences: Each of us has our own preferences and strengths in chess. Some prefer to play White, others Black. By removing the color choice, Lichess takes away this personal preference, making it harder for players to perform at their best and enjoy the game to the fullest.
>
> - Limiting Freedom of Choice: Lichess has always been a platform where players could set their own game conditions. Whether it’s the game time, rating method, or color choice – every decision was in the hands of the players. This freedom has been a hallmark of the platform. Now, without a clear reason, this freedom is being taken away.
>
> - No Disadvantage to Other Players: The option to choose color was always a mutual decision. Both players had the freedom to accept or decline a game offer based on conditions that suited them. There was no compulsion or unfair advantage. So why should this option be removed?
Except this part is not true. The lobby is auto-matched. So there was no freedom to choice for the players who are playing both sides evenly, and have to play the same opponent with black every single time. This makes it an unfair advantage.
>
> - Negative Impact on Specialized Players: Like many of you, I have developed my own playing style. I have been playing almost exclusively as Black since childhood and feel most comfortable with it. When I am suddenly forced to play as White, I feel my performance is impaired because I cannot recognize positions and patterns as quickly as I’m used to. For players like me, this is a major disadvantage and significantly reduces the enjoyment of the game.
Except you are not forced to do anything, you can still invite anyone to a game and play black 1000 times in a row if you want!
>
> - Unnecessary Game Abandonments and Penalties: To maintain my preferred conditions, I would now have to abandon every game where I do not play as Black. But too many game abandonments lead to penalties like a ban. This is unfair and frustrating, especially since this situation has been caused by an unnecessary change.
That is the point, weeding out people who exploit preferred game conditions against people who play without these advantageous conditions. That's why they left the option available to invite people under these conditions, so players are aware and have the freedom to choose or decline.
>
> Lichess should continue to be a platform that allows players the freedom to follow their own preferences. The removal of color choice is, in my view, a step in the wrong direction. I urge the Lichess team to reconsider this change and give players the option to set up their games as they prefer.
Give the above points, I strongly believe the solution they have offered now is a perfect example of freedom of choice. People can no longer be forced to play opponents who give themself advantageous conditions, it can only be a choice
@teddyd said in #310:
> I have been an avid user of this platform for years, and I’ve always appreciated the variety and freedom that Lichess offers. One of the most important features for me was the ability to choose the color I wanted to play when creating a new game. This freedom was an essential part of the playing experience, allowing each player to start a game under conditions that suited them best.
>
> That’s why I find it difficult to understand why Lichess has now removed this option. Instead of having the choice to play as Black or White, the color assignment is now left to chance. While this may seem like a minor change at first glance, for many players – myself included – this represents a significant reduction in the platform's value.
>
> My Arguments Against the Change:
>
> - Ignoring Individual Preferences: Each of us has our own preferences and strengths in chess. Some prefer to play White, others Black. By removing the color choice, Lichess takes away this personal preference, making it harder for players to perform at their best and enjoy the game to the fullest.
>
> - Limiting Freedom of Choice: Lichess has always been a platform where players could set their own game conditions. Whether it’s the game time, rating method, or color choice – every decision was in the hands of the players. This freedom has been a hallmark of the platform. Now, without a clear reason, this freedom is being taken away.
>
> - No Disadvantage to Other Players: The option to choose color was always a mutual decision. Both players had the freedom to accept or decline a game offer based on conditions that suited them. There was no compulsion or unfair advantage. So why should this option be removed?
>
> - Negative Impact on Specialized Players: Like many of you, I have developed my own playing style. I have been playing almost exclusively as Black since childhood and feel most comfortable with it. When I am suddenly forced to play as White, I feel my performance is impaired because I cannot recognize positions and patterns as quickly as I’m used to. For players like me, this is a major disadvantage and significantly reduces the enjoyment of the game.
>
> - Unnecessary Game Abandonments and Penalties: To maintain my preferred conditions, I would now have to abandon every game where I do not play as Black. But too many game abandonments lead to penalties like a ban. This is unfair and frustrating, especially since this situation has been caused by an unnecessary change.
>
> Lichess should continue to be a platform that allows players the freedom to follow their own preferences. The removal of color choice is, in my view, a step in the wrong direction. I urge the Lichess team to reconsider this change and give players the option to set up their games as they prefer.
I totally agree. I am specialised in playing the Smith Morra gambit, after my opponent has fallen for a trap and is in a -4.5 position. I have the right to play all my games like this because it is my personal preference and the site should be built to accommodate this, so people who are matched in a 5+0 blitz against me should now be starting from that position exclusively.
Make Lichess great again, and let me pick my own advantage! There is no disadvantage for other players, they choose to play 5+0 so they are basically agreeing to these terms implicitly.
"Me me me, it's all about me, I wanna" etc. Don't give in to the whiners.
I'm very disappointed that lichess would take away a popular likable software feature. I used it in casual games for both colors. I hope this change is not permanent. I only played here because I couldn't pick a color at chess.com.
Changes should always be about improving something. In this case, I can't see any benefit to this change if it means people will just abort games to get the colour they want. For me, this seems like a backward step and I find taking away people's freedom to choose what colour they play as to be a strange decision.
Why do we have to listen to these whiny arguments defending lichess. They didn't have the guts to speak on this beforehand, there's nothing good to say. Take it out for rating games sure, but unrated too? And so suddenly? With nothing to say about it? One of the rudest things I've seen in a while.
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