I am of the opinion that cheating at something is actually cheating yourself,you cheat yourself of opportunity,the opportunity to improve yourself,the opportunity of gratification of winning solely on your own wits and skill,the opportunity of advancing the game,why would someone deny themself these opportunities. Laziness.

But if everyone believed in that sort of school-assembly-speech stuff, there would be no cheating.  So there must be some reason they're doing it...and I doubt very much that it's laziness.

Fritz, imo. sometimes Rybka.

Considering how little value my family and friends put on my occasional victory, whether it be OTB or on chess.com, I don't see much point in doing other than my personal best to win without using anything that I'd consider cheating. In other words, I play chess for me and no one else.

 You  miss the point tonydal.I ask why they deny themselves opportunity not why they cheat .That answer is simple they cheat because winning overides their moral responsibility to play fair.

So you're just kinda...nagging them.  I see.

How can you cheat on chess.com? (I've been wanting to cheat, but can't figure out how to do it)

I think for some the thrill of beating a much higher rated opponent is satisfying. Trying to get your rating really high and an impeccable record. Anyone who would spend time cheating on an internet chess site doesnt truly care for chess. Perhaps they like it, but are more concerned with beating competition and earning a (good) reputation then the love of the game. Either way, its a waste of time.

They have'nt beaten anyone their computer has .Its like internet porn .I don't go round saying I've had sex with JENNA JAMESON......... whoa Just because I seen her in a movie .The principal is the same.

I am guessing the winner would be checkers.com lol, which is why erik and staff are so tough on cheaters.

The cheater does, that's why they do it.  If they cared about the philosophical implications rather than their rating, they wouldn't.

but what exactly do cheaters get out of cheating? internet rating points lol?

A small short lived sense of gratification, followed by a insatiable urge to clean.Like some illicit drug users their habit is never satisfied and spirall into addiction,so maybe there are cheat addicts out there.

The only ones who win are those who write the software to do it!

I think the reasons someone would cheat are low self esteem, jealousy of those who do well at something they do not do well, and pressure to perform at a high level. I don't see how anyone can just cheat for fun. And if they do they need to get a life.

But to your question, nobody wins when somebody cheats. The person who cheated doesn't win, they are cheating themselves. And the person who lost obviously didn't win. So nobody really wins. That's why cheating is such a disgusting thing.

i think it sad  that someone would need to cheat me I'm not that good..............yet

I have beaten someone in a chess game who was actually cheating against me, yeah I am just that good.

 Oh god.

Lol

Anyway I'm agasint cheating like most, but how can you tell if someone is cheating and, noob chess qeustion here what is an OTB game

If someone feels need to use software to play me I am flattered.

I am 50 and still hope to get better.  I often do not even use computer analysis after a game because I really do not understand the moves strong players (2400+) make, so understanding those Rybka makes is really beyond my ability.

With high rating comes some forms of prestige and perks so I understand why people want that lofty number.  If one can get it and live with the hollowness that comes from not really earning it, I suspect there are other parts of them that are hollow as well.  The people that really earned it can always tell the difference, because ignorance when hidden, becomes even more apparent.

To that end, I do not even concern myself, and if someone, as an example, 400 pts lower than me pastes me to the wall I just congratulate them for a job well done and live without giving in to the bitter feelings that come from feeling they must have "cheated." I always felt a bit self absorbed going that route, so I choose another.

I want my kids to really learn how to think lucidly in both chess and life.  Using a computer to play human opponents for this game does not seem to help achieve those goals for me so I am not into it, but if others are, good for them.

~ richie_and_oprah