I feel your pain. I think the guy ought to be banned. However, do you really expect Chess.com to ban a paying member? Yes, I'd like to make less money please! It's obvious the admins are chess fans, but how long would this site stay up if they started chopping at their subscription base?

On a somewhat related note: What stops people from cheating by opening up a game using Chessmaster or something like that and just mimicing the moves, essentially forcing your opponent to play the game engine instead of a real person?

gycho wrote:

I feel your pain. I think the guy ought to be banned. However, do you really expect Chess.com to ban a paying member? Yes, I'd like to make less money please! It's obvious the admins are chess fans, but how long would this site stay up if they started chopping at their subscription base?

On a somewhat related note: What stops people from cheating by opening up a game using Chessmaster or something like that and just mimicing the moves, essentially forcing your opponent to play the game engine instead of a real person?

-----------

Technically nothing. However, it is fairly easy to tell if players are using an engine. If not during the game, afterwards when you go over your own games. If a 1400 rated player matches Houdini's top move every turn, then it is obvious they are cheating. In which case chess.com will ban them.

Thanks Erik for taking care of this!

@Gycho: They dont have to be banned, the system should not allow an exploit that gives a player (theoretically)infinite vacation time.

I dont mind if people use up ALL their vacation time, even if they dont go away and just need a break or any other reason. The game will come up in a month.. or two.. But half a year, a whole year or infinite because of an exploit is no fun.

I have sent the players that have been going in and out of vacation a (polite) message. It says that I have seen them going in and out and that its considered as a form of abuse. I wont take action now, I just ask that you make a move within your time. If I see it happening again I will report it.

It's been found and fixed! No more time loops!

yes

Account closed !

http://www.chess.com/echess/current_games?member=graven29

http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=65187832

Same problem, 3 days ago RCA_U had 19.5 days of vacation.

Your opponent is currently on vacation! 
"i need more practice i make too many mistakes with" 
They have 19 days 12 hours of vacation time left, but may be back sooner.

Now he has 2 months.

Your opponent is currently on vacation! 
"lets go pens!!" 
They have 2 months of vacation time left, but may be back sooner.

has he been swapping memberships, or did he just upgrade for the first time?