Answers.Body: <p>Lichess has everything you need. Free and open source. It's the second or third popular website after chess.com (possibly chess24 not sure). Many strong players. No installation as it’s a web app.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-02-03T23:31:37.960Z
Answers.Text: +1 because lichess is purely awesome. Just a note though, lichess does have a mobile app available, too.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brandon_J
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-02-03T10:26:22.867Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-02-03T23:32:08.070Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-02-03T23:32:08.070Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Answers.Body: <p>Fide is the federation site for international chess and their <a href="https://arena.myfide.net/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Arena site</a> allows you to play online and even win titles like Arena Grand Master (AGM). It has resources and links to sites. It has statistics and world position lists of all rated players and is responsible for the chess Olympiad held every 2 years where countries compete. You can't become a Grandmaster unless fide rates you above a threshold</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-02-03T13:00:58.670Z
Answers.Text: That's not a chess server, though.
Answers.UserDisplayName: D M
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-02-04T15:26:54.460Z
Answers.Text: @DM  FIDE's Online Arena server is a chess server.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-10T00:05:45.537Z
Answers.Text: @BrianTowers You're correct. But I've tried it, and it's *certainly* not "the most popular and crowded".
Answers.UserDisplayName: D M
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-02-03T12:54:17.157Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-02-04T15:24:23.750Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-02-04T15:24:23.750Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: CBC
Body: <p>Which is the most popular and crowded chess server? I'm new at computer chess, and want to start playing at servers, but I do not understand where I have to play.</p>
  
  <p>I am hearing about <a href="https://www.freechess.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">freechess</a>, <a href="https://www.chessclub.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">chessclub</a>, <a href="https://lichess.org" rel="nofollow noreferrer">lichess</a>, <a href="http://chess.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">chess.com</a>.</p>
  
  <p>How do I play in chess servers? Will I use a GUI or will I play directly in the browser. How do the professionals play?</p>
  
  <p>Mention that, I like free and open-source things.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-02-04T16:24:48.780Z
Comments.Text: "Which is the most popular and crowded chess server?" You are asking the wrong question. The correct question is: "Which chess website would I enjoy playing the most on?" And the answer is - make a free account on any of them and see for yourself.
Comments.UserDisplayName: NoseKnowsAll
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-02-04T17:04:24.437Z
Comments.Text: *How do the professionals play?* - I doubt that actual professionals play online at all. There are too many ways to cheat at online chess.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Philipp
Tags: <software><online-chess><computer-chess><online>
Title: Which is the most popular and crowded chess server?
ThreadText: # Which is the most popular and crowded chess server?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-02-03)
  
  Which is the most popular and crowded chess server? I'm new at computer chess, and want to start playing at servers, but I do not understand where I have to play.
  
  I am hearing about [freechess](https://www.freechess.org/), [chessclub](https://www.chessclub.com/), [lichess](https://lichess.org), [chess.com](http://chess.com/).
  
  How do I play in chess servers? Will I use a GUI or will I play directly in the browser. How do the professionals play?
  
  Mention that, I like free and open-source things.
  
  **Tags:** software, online-chess, computer-chess, online
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: "Which is the most popular and crowded chess server?" You are asking the wrong question. The correct question is: "Which chess website would I enjoy playing the most on?" And the answer is - make a free account on any of them and see for yourself.  
  > **username_2**: *How do the professionals play?* - I doubt that actual professionals play online at all. There are too many ways to cheat at online chess.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2019-02-03. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  Lichess has everything you need. Free and open source. It's the second or third popular website after chess.com (possibly chess24 not sure). Many strong players. No installation as it’s a web app.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: +1 because lichess is purely awesome. Just a note though, lichess does have a mobile app available, too.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2019-02-03. Score: 0
  
  Fide is the federation site for international chess and their [Arena site](https://arena.myfide.net/) allows you to play online and even win titles like Arena Grand Master (AGM). It has resources and links to sites. It has statistics and world position lists of all rated players and is responsible for the chess Olympiad held every 2 years where countries compete. You can't become a Grandmaster unless fide rates you above a threshold
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_6**: That's not a chess server, though.  
  > **username_7**: @DM  FIDE's Online Arena server is a chess server.  
  > **username_6**: @BrianTowers You're correct. But I've tried it, and it's *certainly* not "the most popular and crowded".  
  
  ---
  
  