lichess_get_userRetrieve a Lichess user's public profile with per-variant ratings, played games, and account flags by username; optionally restrict returned fields.
Get a Lichess user's public profile, including per-variant ratings, played games, and account flags.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| fields | No | Keys to keep (comma-separated). | |
| username | Yes | Lichess username (case-insensitive) |
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
v1.4.1Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, idempotentHint and openWorldHint, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds useful scope context ('public profile') and enumerates the kind of data returned, but says nothing about rate limits, error behavior for nonexistent users, or casing/auth implications beyond the schema.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
A single front-loaded sentence with the verb and resource first and the returned content second. No filler, no repetition of the title.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
No output schema exists, so the description's enumeration of profile contents does meaningful work in telling the agent what to expect. For a simple read-only getter with full schema coverage and annotations, this is close to complete; only edge-case behavior is unaddressed.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100%, so both parameters (username, fields) are already documented in the schema; the description adds no syntax or format detail beyond it. Baseline 3 applies when the schema does the heavy lifting.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
States a specific verb (Get) and resource (a Lichess user's public profile) and enumerates the content returned (per-variant ratings, played games, account flags). It does not, however, differentiate itself from nearby siblings such as lichess_get_users_status or lichess_get_top_players, so an agent must infer the boundary.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description gives no when-to-use guidance, no prerequisites, and never names an alternative tool. With many sibling user/player tools in the list, the agent gets no routing help.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.