Why playing chess in person is better than online?

For a long time, chess was seen as a rather stuffy game, reserved for clubs or hardcore competitors. But over the past few years, it has made a major comeback. The Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit captivated millions of viewers, Twitch and YouTube popularized live-commented games, and a record number of players got back into chess after the Covid-19 lockdowns.

But here’s the thing: most of this revival happened…online. Platforms like Chess.com and Lichess exploded, offering the chance to play at any time, against opponents from all over the world. Online chess became a daily habit for millions of people: practical, fast, and accessible.

And yet, many players felt something was missing: no handshake, no real conversations, and sometimes cheating or even toxic behavior. Online chess has clear advantages, but it lacks one essential element: human connection.

In contrast, playing chess in person brings a social, sensory, and authentic dimension that online play can’t replicate. In this article, we’ll compare online vs. over-the-board chess, and look at the best ways to play in person (clubs, festivals, parks, bars and cafés) so you can find the option that best fits your style.

Playing chess online: a revolution with limits

The online chess boom

It’s impossible to ignore: online chess has seen a massive surge. During lockdowns, millions of new players started playing behind their screens. On Chess.com, for example, registrations skyrocketed, with a growth of more than 238% since January 2020. The platform even hit a record of 10 million active users in a single day.

The phenomenon was boosted by Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit: after its release, downloads of chess apps jumped by 63%. On Twitch and YouTube, live chess streams and influencers turned chess into real entertainment, fun to watch as well as to play. The result: chess became cool again, especially among Gen Z.

Sources: Chess.com, WUFT, Wikipedia (Online Chess).

The advantages of online play

Let’s be honest, online chess has plenty of perks:

• You can always find an opponent, day or night.

• Games are fast: over 70% of online games are blitz or bullet, lasting just a few minutes.

• Platforms offer automatic analysis tools.

• You can face opponents worldwide: Chess.com now has over 100 million registered members.

  
  

If you want to play lots of games quickly and try different formats (blitz, bullet, classical etc.), online chess is extremely convenient.

Source: Chess.com (official statistics).

The drawbacks

But online play also comes with its downsides:

• Isolation: you’re playing alone against a screen, without real human connection.

• Cheating risks: Chess.com reports banning over 500,000 accounts per month for cheating. This undermines authenticity and intensity.

• Lack of sensory experience: no real board, no ticking clock, no atmosphere.

• Toxic behavior: a US Chess Federation survey found nearly 1 in 3 players had experienced hostile behavior online.

  
  

Sources: Chess.com (Fair Play Blog), Wikipedia (Cheating in online chess).

In short: online chess is practical and accessible, but it can’t replace the depth of in-person chess. That’s exactly what we’ll dive into next: why over-the-board chess offers a one-of-a-kind experience.

Playing chess in person: why it’s better

The social dimension

Chess isn’t just about moves on a board…it’s about people. Playing in person means shaking hands with your opponent, exchanging a smile, or analyzing the game together over coffee. It’s also about meeting fellow enthusiasts, growing your circle, and building friendships. A face-to-face game isn’t just a match, it’s an experience. No screen can replace that.

The sensory experience

Nothing compares to the feel of a real chessboard: the feel of the chess pieces under your fingers, the sound as they’re placed on the board, the tension of a clock ticking down. This atmosphere makes every game unique. Switching from a 2D screen to “3D” may feel odd at first, but you quickly realize how much more immersive and meaningful it is. Chess stops being just an interface and becomes a full experience.

The authenticity of the game

Online, cheating is always a possibility: engines, hidden assistance, second screens…In person, everything relies on your own mind and focus. Games are fairer, more intense, and more memorable. Playing over the board brings chess back to its essence: an honest, direct contest without shortcuts.

A different path to improvement

Online chess teaches you volume, to play lots of games and rely on automatic analysis. But in-person play develops skills the screen can’t: handling stress in a quiet room, staying focused under time pressure, observing your opponent’s body language and thought process.

And then there’s the post-game moment. Many players love to “replay the match” and share impressions. You’ll often get tips, strategic insights, or small tricks from your opponent’s experience. These human exchanges give you a deeper, more vivid understanding of the game than any analysis engine can.

The result: you improve not just technically, but also mentally and socially…valuable skills in chess, and in life.

Overall, the advantages of in-person chess far outweigh those of online play: it’s more social, immersive, and authentic. Thanks to the human exchange of advice and ideas, it also supports a richer and more well-rounded progression, well beyond what online analysis alone can provide.

Where and how to play chess in person?

Convinced that over-the-board chess has something special? Good news: there are plenty of ways to do it, whatever your style or level. Here’s a quick overview of the main options (for details, check our Complete guide: where and how to play chess near you?).

Chess clubs

In the US, the US Chess Federation counts over 90,000 licensed members, and in Germany, the German Chess Federation oversees more than 2,400 affiliated clubs. Clubs remain the backbone of in-person play. They’re the most structured option, with regular training sessions, official competitions, and experienced players. Perfect if you want to progress seriously, learn methodically, and join rated tournaments. Less flexible, though, if you just want to play occasionally for fun.

Informal play

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s spontaneity: pulling out your chessboard in a park, playing with friends at home, or joining a casual café game. Informal play has a unique charm: it’s free, open to all, but it depends heavily on weather, luck, and public space availability.

Festivals and opens

For full immersion, nothing beats chess festivals and open tournaments. These events bring together hundreds of players of all levels, sometimes alongside international masters. For example, ChessFest in London attracted over 25,000 visitors in 2025, and the Reykjavik Open regularly gathers hundreds of players across the rating spectrum. The atmosphere is unforgettable: intense concentration, excitement, but also social interaction and discovery. The tradeoff: it’s not free and requires more time and planning than a casual game.

Bars and cafés

More and more bars and cafés are organizing chess nights or simply putting boards at customers’ disposal. This is the perfect option if you’re looking for a fun, social, and relaxed environment, open to all skill levels. And now, apps like ChessBar make it even easier: they organize casual tournaments in partner bars and cafés, free for players and open to everyone.

Whether you go for a club, casual park play, or bars/cafés, there’s an option that matches your way of enjoying chess.

FAQ

Why play chess in person?

Playing chess in person delivers a more social, authentic, and immersive experience. Unlike online play, you meet real people, feel the atmosphere around the board, and improve by managing stress and concentration.

What are the benefits of face-to-face chess compared to online chess?

Over-the-board play adds a unique human and sensory dimension: real connections, shared emotions, fair games without cheating, and a more complete progression. Online chess is practical, but it lacks the intensity and social bond of in-person play.

Where can I play chess near me?

You can join a chess club, take part in festivals, enjoy casual games in parks, or join fun evenings in bars and cafés. Discover all the options in our Complete guide: where and how to play chess near you?.

Conclusion

Online chess has revolutionized how we play: convenient, accessible anytime, it lets you improve quickly and find opponents worldwide. But in the end, nothing replaces the experience of playing face-to-face.

Across the board, every game becomes unique: you meet new people, feel the atmosphere of the room, live the tension of the clock, and grow in ways that go beyond just technique. It’s this authenticity, this mix of social connection and emotion, that gives chess its true magic.

Whether you choose a club, a festival, a park, or a friendly café night, the key is finding the format that fits your style. And if you’re looking for a flexible, fun experience open to all levels, apps like ChessBar let you easily join casual events in bars, cafés, and beyond, free for players. Download it and discover chess like you’ve never played before!

Check out ChessBar meetups