An opponent was recently banned for allegedly cheating. All I could see he was doing was racing ahead with games he was winning while stalling games he was losing to ensure he got a high rating. When he was banned I was two moves away from mating him. But instead of (for me, a rare) victory over someone rated well above 2000, I had to wait for him to time out in all his other games so that I was credited with a win over someone in the 1600s.

Now I'm sure greater minds than mine have been at work here, and that the site as some sort of Sherlock Holmes software to ensure cheats don't prosper. But in a way I feel I was penalised too.

Perhaps instead of a straight ban, a suspected cheat could be held up to public ridicule, subject to a vote by his oppenents and, in extreme cases, sent to bed without supper?

 Any thoughts? 

Ive had about the same thing, playing a solid game, then he times out all until his rating dropped by a few hundred.

The thing is, in your case, he wouldn't be playing on a 2000 elo level. Since he gets there by stalling etc. And the other thing, it's just luck for some and bad luck for others. You can't really help it but hey, you still win.

stalling players can be annoying but in most cases I have doubts. I can't really say if there are any reasons, like many games at a time. I just wait and play on, rating is only rating, not how good you are.

I agree with bastiaan. Try not to feel cheated; if he got to 2000+ by cheating, then he's not really a 2000+ player.

Into the 21st century, public humilition should not be a punishment for players, unless in extreme cases. Victims should be adequetly compesated (if possible), and the offender gets banned, either for life, or for a period of time, and all games in which he won, should be wiped, leaving him/her with a record of losses.

I do understand the ins and outs here. If a player wants to stall certain games, I couldn't really care less. And I imagine there must have been another reason why this fella was banned.

I just fancied a moan.

Also, there was supposed to be an element of humour in my alternative punishments...

I third the bed with no supper punishment.

CBA wrote:

An opponent was recently banned for allegedly cheating. All I could see he was doing was racing ahead with games he was winning while stalling games he was losing to ensure he got a high rating. When he was banned I was two moves away from mating him. But instead of (for me, a rare) victory over someone rated well above 2000, I had to wait for him to time out in all his other games so that I was credited with a win over someone in the 1600s.

Now I'm sure greater minds than mine have been at work here, and that the site as some sort of Sherlock Holmes software to ensure cheats don't prosper. But in a way I feel I was penalised too.

Perhaps instead of a straight ban, a suspected cheat could be held up to public ridicule, subject to a vote by his oppenents and, in extreme cases, sent to bed without supper?

 Any thoughts? 

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 I don't think this site has any fancy detection methods. I think they sweep say the top 5% of players too see whose moves agree with computers on suspicion. Mainly it's with guy like NM Loser, who are very suspicious.  As to your rating, tough. A win's a win.

damn! i was gonna go to bed, but now i'm hungry!

I am convinced that if all this person did was delay making a move in certain games while making moves in other games as long as this person did not violate the time frame or use vacation time, this would not be cheating.  If you are playing say 10 games and all have a three day time limit and you conform to the three day, it is not cheating.

ozzie_c_cobblepot wrote: I third the bed with no supper punishment.

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 harsh

trick 'em into free accomodation in a really lousy B & B.

 

I can't believe people get worked up if someone is cheating.  Well if someone is cheating, they are cheating themselves.  They know that there rating is worthless.  Anyway these ratings are worthless.  Most people on here play for fun.  I could be wrong.  I could'nt care less if my opponent is cheating or not.  As long as I have played a good game, I'm happy.

i for one didnt get worked up - i recommended free if lousy B & B ;)

 

How about sending 'em flowers, accopanied with  €10,00 cash and a note requesting considering not doing it again.

I only say this because last note as i type this was from india - i am at present in Calcutta India - and it seems there was lately some critical acclaim here for a film promoting 'gandhian' protest methods in which presenting flowers to the offender was the key. (I don't know  enough of indian history to have any idea whether Mr Gandhi sent whoever ordered that massacre at Amritsur flowers, so may be someone from india can fill me in on this?)

If they are into good music, sentence them to 3 days of rave-music only [with the option of no-music]. Equivalently, 3 hours of Boney M [without the no-music option].

Locking in player ratings at the start of a game would  ensure fair point results for the winner should their opponent implement stall tactics for whatever reason. I have seen too many games begin with an opponent rated at for example 1300 and than all of a sudden they're rated several hundred points higher by the end of the game.

the problem with banning is that he can just creat a new account

JediMaster wrote: I am convinced that if all this person did was delay making a move in certain games while making moves in other games as long as this person did not violate the time frame or use vacation time, this would not be cheating.  If you are playing say 10 games and all have a three day time limit and you conform to the three day, it is not cheating.

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 It may not be cheating but it is manipulation of the rating system and that should be punishable in some way. If I take on an opponent with a 2000 rating, I do so with the expectation that I will gain a certain number of points if I win. I generally don't play lower rated players unless they want to play a thematic game that I am familiar with or some other special reason and I'm sure a lot of players do the same. If he suddenly forfeits most of his games on time leaving him with a 1400 rating, the entire game has been a waste of time for me.

 

Forfeiting a bunch of games on time is also always a good way to sandbag your rating so you can get into tournaments with players who are beneath your true ability. If it's done for that purpose, then it's definitely cheating and they should be banned.

Czech_M8 wrote: Locking in player ratings at the start of a game would  ensure fair point results for the winner should their opponent implement stall tactics for whatever reason. I have seen too many games begin with an opponent rated at for example 1300 and than all of a sudden they're rated several hundred points higher by the end of the game.

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This looks to be about the best answer to the original post.

 

normajeanyates wrote:

How about sending 'em flowers, accopanied with  €10,00 cash and a note requesting considering not doing it again.

I only say this because last note as i type this was from india - i am at present in Calcutta India - and it seems there was lately some critical acclaim here for a film promoting 'gandhian' protest methods in which presenting flowers to the offender was the key. (I don't know  enough of indian history to have any idea whether Mr Gandhi sent whoever ordered that massacre at Amritsur flowers, so may be someone from india can fill me in on this?)

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The film is Lage Raho Munnabhai (Carry on Munnabhai).  It's a comedy film, part of the story having people presenting flowers to people who hurt them, as a form of non-violent protest.  Gandhi won independence for India by this form of protest.  However he never sent anyone any flowers.