Will online chess replace OTB?

pawnmuch is negative

@Flyingjat that cheating argument just kills it

Thanks to DGT, Certabo, Novag, WebcamChess, et al. — and the Lichess Board API — is there even really a difference anymore between online and OTB chess?

I think that’s the more interesting discussion: not whether one will overtake the other, but whether they will in fact largely merge, with non-electric boards (or boards used without a webcam) becoming rare, even in tournaments. As it is, you see DGT sets used at tournaments all the time, and the games are often broadcast online.

See this blog post lichess.org/blog/XlRW5REAAB8AUJJ-/welcome-lichess-boards and its associated thread lichess.org/forum/general-chess-discussion/blog-XlRW5REAAB8AUJJ-?page=1 (now archived). Consider also comments like this:

“ ‘Is it better to learn by playing online, or classic over-the-board chess?’ It depends on how you learn best. Everyone’s different. It depends what your goals are, too. I’m at the point where it doesn’t really make a difference if it’s a physical board or a digital board. It’s just chess. But I know, when people are first starting out, they have sometimes preferences one way or the other.” — IM Eric Rosen

I’m sure lots of other titled players feel the same way. For many professionals, there is already no difference. 🤷‍♂️

You mean by the year 2000? :D

cool