Request: Implement "super zen" mode

My suggestion in a few words: implement an option to make rating visibility optional.

Having those numbers visible everywhere all the time on this site adds nothing to the player's experience. Points are used to match users and the pairing system works fine whether or not the user knows their rating.

Some users are attached to their points and stop playing after getting a good rating for fear of losing it. Rating points can also create addiction.

I can understand why a commercial site such as chess.com wants to keep this system visible, but lichess is non-profit and therefore doesn't need any tactics to keep users engaged.

There are CSS workarounds to hide rating, but they don't work on the app, and not every mobile browser supports uBlock addon.

In this case, Lichess has almost all the necessary code to implement the option: cheaters have their graph and ratings hidden, zen mode hides points during games, and ratings with a high RD have ? instead of a number. Lichess could help those users who want to ignore their ratings by offering an option to replace them with the question mark.

I really like this idea. I use zen mode a lot but for me it becomes a hiding to nothing when the game ends and I see everything anyway. I definitely second this idea.

Thumbs up from me.

#1, agreed :)

I like this idea very, very much.

Perhaps soon we can have a slider or a list of checkboxes, asking us how much we would like to have concealed: opponent identity, opponent rating, maybe even something else that gets thought up in the future!

Even better idea #Egroegw. The more choice the better. However, the OPs idea would presumably mean very little extra work or coding since hiding peoples rating is already used, in the current zen mode for example. A sliding scale would mean a lot more work I assume. I don't know though, just assuming.

I think the reason this idea has potential is because it's effectively just a slight extension of something that already exists on the site.

@Egroegw

A customizable zen mode would be the ideal option, but I think lichess should first focus on anxiety-inducing information: points and titles (just in case you are paired with a master). Things like identity and chat (which zen mode already hides) aren't related to the problem caused by points.

@slothville

"OPs idea would presumably mean very little extra work or coding "

Add tournament ranking and the tabs on your profile: Activity and /all (lichess.org/@/slothville/all). I think most of the code needed is already implemented. We need a button to enable/disable what for now works automatically under specific conditions.

Ah, have there been any issues opened on Github that relate to this?

There are userstyles that does this.

Disclaimer : I have not tried or used any of them.

userstyles.org/styles/145758/lichess-complete-zen-mode
userstyles.org/styles/187489/lichess-superzen
userstyles.org/styles/144949/hide-lichess-ratings

EDIT: probably superzen is the one you are looking for, based on a quick glance

@Egroegw

I don't know exactly what Github is. Isn't it only for devs? I know nothing abouts technical stuff/coding. I guess Lichess devs already read this forum (Thibault sometimes reply to posts).

@TBest

"There are userstyles that does this."

I can't install Stylish on Firefox for Android, and Chrome doesn't support add-ons.

Even if I could use it, the add-on can become obsolete at any moment if the devs discontinue it, or can stop working after a browser update, etc.