LICHESS'S HIDDEN POLITICAL CENSORSHIP

A few days ago, in the US, a public figure, Charlie Kirk, was publicly assassinated during his speech at the university.

Lichess is a very popular chess platform that also has a Forum. The forum has the "Off-Topic Discussion" section. Shortly after the assassination, the thread "Charlie Kirk was shot" appeared there. It began so:

"I checked the news, and there was the report on Charlie Kirk getting shot at Utah university." (...) #1

That thread quickly became popular. I wrote post number 65:

"There was freedom of speech in the Soviet Union. If you had an opinion, you could speak up. But you weren't allowed near the microphone.

There is freedom of speech in the United States. If you have an opinion, you can speak up. But you'll die with the microphone in your hand." #65

Lichess shows me that my comment is published. I have received no notification that it has not been published. There is no place on Lichess where I can see that my account is restricted (if it is).

My post No. 65, as it is shown to me

However, the next comment also has the number 65. 

If I look at Lichess in another browser, where I am not logged in to Lichess, then I see that my post is not visible to others. The others are even unaware that I have posted something. And I am unaware that my comment is invisible.

My post is not visible to others

Therefore, I would like to add:

"There is freedom of speech on the chess platform Lichess. If you have an opinion, you can speak up. But you do not know that your microphone has been switched off."

I do not recommend using such chess platforms as ChessCOM or Lichess, because they are the enemies of free speech and they hypocritically pretend to promote free speech.

Their censorship is often hidden and ideologically-politically motivated. At the same time, very nasty comments are not censored, not taken down.

Using ChessCOM is particularly dubious because it is a paid service platform, so by using it, you are sponsoring a kind of fascism. 

One should also refrain from making donations to Lichess, as donating to Lichess effectively supports the enemies of freedom.

I have completely abandoned ChessCOM and I will never donate to Lichess.

KASPAROV: EUROPE'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON CONFRONTATION

Garry Kasparov and Gabrielius Landsbergis have published an essay

"Europe’s Future Depends on Confrontation, Not Compromise"

Politico, 08/03/2025

I am far from being sure that all the descriptions provided in that article correspond to reality.
For example:

• The article argues that the European Union is based on a free market, free trade. However, to my knowledge, one of the reasons why the European Union was established was to ruin the Soviet Union economically. The European Union has applied economic sanctions, economic boycotts, etc.
• The article contains grave factual mistakes/omissions concerning the "Minsk Agreements". It is public knowledge that Ukraine never intended to follow these agreements.
• The article ignores the fact that the European Commission is an unelected organ. 
• Etc. 

When a chessplayer starts to write about politics, I would like to see some ability for analysis.

In Kasparov's case, unfortunately, I have always seen only a propaganda of a one-sided and largely unfounded narrative.

FIVE EXTRA PAWNS

Five extra pawns did not save Black

Recently, I had a fascinating correspondence chess game on the Chesstempo. Finally, my opponent had five extra pawns, but I had better development, and my opponent's knight was pinned. Then, my opponent had five extra pawns against my extra piece. The opponent had almost finished developing, while weakening their pawn structure. I was not sure whether I could win or even make a draw. A computer analysis says I had a better position. However, suddenly, my opponent made a blunder...

For the analysis, see below.

THE ONLY FUNCTION OF THE QUEEN

During White's successful king attack, White's queen was absolutely passive

The game EintaluJ - Yustaff_Kirchhoff, Lichess 2025:

Analysis: