Feature suggestion: chess matches

@Mr_Kuryakin said in #9:
> Then you need to answer Buttercup22’s question.

I answered both comments from him.
Anyway I'm not offering a great solution, just proposing a feature I would like to have and see if is interesting to others too :)

@AlwaysNovice said in #11:
> I answered both comments from him.
> Anyway I'm not offering a great solution, just proposing a feature I would like to have and see if is interesting to others too :)

ok what I mean is
- rating should predict result
- if I sign up for a 6 game match and only play one, what do you suggest happens with my rating?
- or do you suggest a separate match-rating?

@Mr_Kuryakin said in #12:
> ok what I mean is
> - rating should predict result
> - if I sign up for a 6 game match and only play one, what do you suggest happens with my rating?
> - or do you suggest a separate match-rating?

I proposed that:
For mini matches of more than 2 games if someone leaves loses the current game and match stops.

So if in a 6 game match you play 1 game you lose second game (on time) and match stops

Definitely not separate match rating because is not a new mode, just a way to chain games

@AlwaysNovice said in #13:
> I proposed that:
> For mini matches of more than 2 games if someone leaves loses the current game and match stops.
>
> So if in a 6 game match you play 1 game you lose second game (on time) and match stops
>
> Definitely not separate match rating because is not a new mode, just a way to chain games

ok just to clarify you suggest the match is won by 6-0
but only the first two games will affect the rating.
The second game, with no moves (today ”aborted”) would then affect rating which is in conflict with the rating system which should predict future results.
That is why I think this is a dead end.

What would you think about this possible solution:
winning a match gives the same rating boost as winning a game.

@Mr_Kuryakin said in #14:
> ok just to clarify you suggest the match is won by 6-0
> but only the first two games will affect the rating.
> The second game, with no moves (today ”aborted”) would then affect rating which is in conflict with the rating system which should predict future results.
> That is why I think this is a dead end.
>
> What would you think about this possible solution:
> winning a match gives the same rating boost as winning a game.

We are speaking of stand-alone match right?
Then match is won 2-0 and second game with no moves counts for rating as tournament games do.

I think of a match just a as way to get two players commited to play a number of games, nothing else. If someone leaves then gets one match lost (counting for rating) as penalty and match ends

@AlwaysNovice

Yes we’re talking about a stand alone match.

With your proposal the players would only commit to a two game match. As the match ends after the first forfeit.

So this would be a new feature and be used if there is a demand for it.

pros
you will get black and white
luck will even out (a little)

cons
cheaters will win one more game

So, considering there is a rematch button, and that black and white evens out in the long run anyway, do you still want two-game matches?

I think matches is a great idea but only if there would be (also) 6-game matches, 10-game matches/adoption etc. But then there is the committment vs rating-system issue. Or tournament-only-matches.

@Mr_Kuryakin

I would love N-game matches and tournaments but I'm starting with 2 game matches to simplify discussion. It can be extended rather easily to N game matches.

I'm aware that with rematch button and past games under the board somehow matches are already there. But my feeling is people mostly play one game and run, if you ever play him again chances are you don't remember past games with him.

For me, having same opponent for a number of games makes it more interesting due to both players adapting their play:
- Looking for opponent's weaknesses and trying to exploit them in following games.
- Testing different openings/variations considering how score goes.
- Repeating critical variations looking for improvement or alternative moves.
- Repeating opponent is psychologically more demanding than just get "fresh new" player.

Depending on rival playing style and his repertoire some matches will be very fun and others dull and boring so maybe having the option to stop ongoing match could be needed (by mutual agreement or at cost of losing one match).

Tournaments would be very interesting too, main issue I guess it would be waiting time between rounds. Maybe having limit for each round and tie-breaker could do the job.

I like the idea of matches and the Match tournament.. would be kinda like a Battle Royal version of chess. I think it would be riddled with people rage quitting or just leaving the tournament and messing stuff up all the time

@AlwaysNovice said in #10:
> Yeah, I agree idea needs some work and I love Lichess' interface cleanliness. Definitely shouldn't be a new button when creating match nor new icon on lobby.
>
> I focus with initial idea of mini matches of 2 games for now (so both players get white pieces once).
>
> One thing might work is
> 1. Having a user setting something like "Allow matches" (defaulted to No) so those not interested are not affected.
> 2. When 2 players with flag enabled start a game new button is available only on first move (just like berserk in arena tournaments)
> 3. One player hits the button "proposing" and if the other clicks "accepting proposal" after game ends a new one starts with colours reversed. Both players should press the button on first move to engage to second game.

Your suggestion for the UI seems pretty sound and practical. I don't think there would be any issues with cheaters getting extra points as someone mentioned. If someone is found to be a cheater you'd get a rating refund for the whole game you played him and the aborted game you didn't play because he's a cheater. I also think it would be quite fun to have on your profile a "matches" statistic to see how you do on these. This would also discourage rage quitting, in addition to the ratings penalty of one game and game quitter flag increased by one.