Correspondence Chess: The Tool Everyone Should be Using

Correspondence chess on Lichess is a unique battlefield. Unlike blitz or bullet, where speed and intuition rule, correspondence chess allows for deep calculation, thorough analysis, and the use of resources to refine every move. If you’re serious about improving in this format, there’s one tip that towers above the rest in the opening: use the Lichess database.

This isn’t about cheating—far from it. Lichess explicitly allows players to consult its own database of past games and opening theory during correspondence games. It’s a completely fair and legitimate tool that can transform your play, giving you access to the accumulated knowledge of thousands of games. If you’re not using it, you’re playing with a self-imposed handicap.

Why the Lichess database is so powerful

The Lichess database is an incredible resource because it provides real-world data from millions of games. Unlike an engine, which suggests theoretically optimal moves, the database tells you what human players actually play in your position. This can help you understand which moves are popular, which have high win rates, and which tend to lead to disaster.

The database is especially useful in correspondence chess because games unfold slowly, allowing you to cross-reference moves without the pressure of a ticking clock. This means you can methodically research the best available options and compare their success rates before committing to a move.

How to access the database

Using the Lichess database is simple. While analysing a move in your correspondence game, follow these steps:

Click on the analysis board (the magnifying glass icon).
Toggle "Lichess database" on the right-hand panel.
You’ll now see a list of possible moves, alongside their popularity and the win/draw/loss percentages.

This instantly gives you insight into what strong players have played in your position. You’re not just guessing or relying on vague memories of opening theory—you’re seeing real trends backed by data.

Finding the best moves

The Lichess database doesn’t just show what’s popular—it highlights what works. Each move comes with win percentages for White and Black, giving you an idea of which options are strongest.

However, don’t blindly follow the highest win-rate move. Sometimes, a move is highly successful because it is played by stronger players, while a lower win-rate move is only bad because beginners misplay it later. Always consider whether a move fits your playing style and the kind of position you’re comfortable with.

Avoiding common mistakes

Another underrated use of the Lichess database is spotting mistakes before you make them. If you’re considering a move but see that it has an abysmal win rate, that’s a red flag. It may lead to a tactical blunder or a strategically poor position.

Instead of learning the hard way, use the database to steer clear of moves that consistently fail for other players. This alone can save you from countless lost games.

Mixing preparation with personal understanding

While the database is a fantastic tool, don’t let it turn you into a mindless copycat. Use it to inform your decisions, not to make them for you. If a move looks strong in the database, try to understand why it works before playing it. This is particularly true as there become fewer options available in the database and you have to start making decisions for yourself rather than relying on others that have played that position before.

Ask yourself:

Does it improve my position?
Does it fit my overall strategy?
What are my opponent’s possible responses?

By combining database knowledge with your own chess understanding, you’ll develop stronger decision-making skills rather than relying on statistics alone.

Recognising when to leave the database

Eventually, you’ll enter a position with no database games. At this point, you’re on your own. This is where your chess ability truly comes into play. If you’ve used the database effectively up to this point, you should have a solid foundation. Your position will likely be more comfortable, and you’ll have avoided the pitfalls that less-prepared players fall into.

If you're playing someone who you think is also using the database, you may also choose to leave the database early to take them 'out of book' - another useful strategy if you think your opponent is just following standard lines and you want to challenge them.

Conclusion: Use it or lose to it!

In correspondence chess, knowledge is power, and the Lichess database is one of the best sources of knowledge available. By using it correctly, you’ll gain an immediate advantage, make stronger moves, and avoid common mistakes.

Your opponents are probably using the database—so if you don’t, you’re already playing from behind. Learn how to use it wisely, and watch your correspondence chess results improve dramatically.

At Think Chess we run regular correspondence championships. Come and check out the team to see when our next event is.