Further to my other post, here are the games I played yesterday:
2098 vs 2125 -
lichess.org/17BnMxz2ZxWk2105 vs 2119 -
lichess.org/JmQQMiwp65hB2099 vs 2101 -
lichess.org/kHFeGckinZJl2105 vs 2136 -
lichess.org/Dis5aipvFyQE2100 vs 2139 (I mouse slipped in this game and made an utterly stupid move!) -
lichess.org/HXRPCbU1zfS32095 vs 2146 -
lichess.org/vOr5aIOL9pqo2101 vs 2205 -
lichess.org/J45nKBlo1mXd2109 vs 2133 (this is quite an interesting game BTW, where I played a very rare line that I've been working on as a novelty, and my opponent sacked their queen unsoundly, but got positional compensation) -
lichess.org/oLSC98bZg8002115 vs 2151 -
lichess.org/jM33W2WiG6mwHere are the statistics from these games, plus the others that I posted previously in this thread:
Games played - 19
Average rating difference - 44.68
Games played with over 100 rating difference - 2 (10.5%)
Games played with over 150 rating difference - 0 (0%)
So I just wanted to demonstrate that you will not be matched with higher rated players any more (or, for that matter, much significantly lower rated players). Possibly it might happen once in a blue moon. But for the overwhelming majority of the time, you will solely play people in your own rating range, and you have no choice in the matter whatsoever, even in a casual game.
I accept that lichess have made their decision, this will be my last post on the subject, but I think it diminishes the amazing service that they have delivered. And they have singularly failed to explain why this has happened, or engage with any of the people who have questioned or criticised it. Instead, members of the community have been left to defend it, and theorise on why it may have been implemented, and why less freedom and less choice is a good thing.
I still hold lichess and its founders in very high esteem. I just don't understand this decision, which isn't that surprising as no-one has even attempted to explain it to me!