1. Cheating
2. Cheating
3. Not cheating
4. Not cheating
What is considered cheating on this site?
Sort:
Jun 9, 2020
0
#4
@Strangemover, #4 is clearly not allowed here. On game variations there might still be motives relevant to the game.
Jun 9, 2020
0
#5
ArthurEZiegler wrote:
I read most of an old thread that talked about cheating and am still confused. Of course phony games to increase ratings are, but I am not thinking of those. I have played a few daily chess games with 3 days for a move because I have to think about my move and don't want time pressure and also I rarely have time to sit for a full game. This is a situation that could be taken advantage of, but where the line is drawn is unclear. Official guidelines for this site would be useful. Anyway, let me list some situations and my own opinion and let me hear some feedback.
1. Use of computers or good chess players to suggest moves - Well, some correspondence chess games do seem to allow this and I think I've heard in a tournament game that is halted to resume the next day this is done, but if you are not winning by your own ability I would call it cheating.
2. Using a computer or chess player to evaluate moves you are considering to tell if they improve or worsen your position. - Although you are coming up with the moves you are not totally evaluating them yourself, again I would call this cheating! I often will let a computer analyse a game, but only after it is over. I may let a computer show it's evaluation if I am playing an unrated game against a computer.
3. Use of a book of openings or a database of games: - Apparently this is commonly accepted in correspondence chess as a means to improve the game, but still you are not doing it own your own knowledge. I say cheating.
4. Use of computer or separate board to try different lines of play - I have made use of this feature on the computer board with the Daily Chess occasionally to try out different moves and see where the game might then lead, but some do consider this cheating! The argument is you should just look at the board and visualize the moves you are considering without actually moving a piece until you make your move. Now when I played chess as a kid you could move pieces around the board as long as you told the opponent you were just trying to see something. I found doing this with the computer very convenient since it was easy to go back to your original position. Also, in the Daily Chess the board is set up to allow this. I say you are still playing your own game, just using some assistance to see possible positions and make your own evaluations. However, if on this site it is considered cheating I'll cease and desist this practice!
The help articles are a good source for information in that. While the site hasn't changed the stance much over the years, old topics may be hit or miss in some instances.
https://support.chess.com/article/648-what-do-i-need-to-know-about-fair-play-on-chess-com
Jun 9, 2020
0
#7
Sred wrote:
On this site 1,2,4 are considered cheating, 3 is fine on daily games.
He's talking about analysing on a separate board no? Not computer assistance, just on the analysis board on the computer. In relation to #4 I mean.
Jun 9, 2020
0
#8
Sred wrote:
@Strangemover, #4 is clearly not allowed here. On game variations there might still be motives relevant to the game.
On 4, use of a physical board is allowed for both daily and live, however, for Live games it should be treated as touch move and going over variations would certainly be prohibited. For Daily it is completely allowed, as would a separate computer board, as long as no engines or tablebases are connected.
Jun 9, 2020
0
#9
Strangemover wrote:
Sred wrote:
On this site 1,2,4 are considered cheating, 3 is fine on daily games.
He's talking about analysing on a separate board no? Not computer assistance, just on the analysis board on the computer. In relation to #4 I mean.
If it's meant that way, then you are right.
This makes me feel better about my daily games lol... though I still make blunders 
ok in general dont cheat
its as simple as that
Jun 9, 2020
0
#13
Thanks, the answer to my question is now clear. For Daily Chess it seems 3 and 4 are allowed!
Martin_Stahl wrote:
Sred wrote:
@Strangemover, #4 is clearly not allowed here. On game variations there might still be motives relevant to the game.
On 4, use of a physical board is allowed for both daily and live, however, for Live games it should be treated as touch move and going over variations would certainly be prohibited. For Daily it is completely allowed, as would a separate computer board, as long as no engines or tablebases are connected.
That's good to hear. I remember some time ago, maybe a couple years, using a real board was prohibited, even though it was as close as you can get to a real game.
Jun 9, 2020
0
#16
lfPatriotGames wrote:
Martin_Stahl wrote:
Sred wrote:
@Strangemover, #4 is clearly not allowed here. On game variations there might still be motives relevant to the game.
On 4, use of a physical board is allowed for both daily and live, however, for Live games it should be treated as touch move and going over variations would certainly be prohibited. For Daily it is completely allowed, as would a separate computer board, as long as no engines or tablebases are connected.
That's good to hear. I remember some time ago, maybe a couple years, using a real board was prohibited, even though it was as close as you can get to a real game.
I don't think it was ever officially prohibited; some people were very vocal that it should be though.
Jun 9, 2020
0
#17
It is pretty simply when it comes to correspondence on here. You cannot use an engine. Period!
Board? Fine! Can be 3d on your table. Can be on a screen. Just do not turn any engine on.
Books, Tables (opening, endgame, etc) - also fine! Again, no engine! You want to get out John Nunn's Secrets of Rook Endings, which is basically a database dump of all R+P vs R, have at it. No Engine!
Of course, if you play in multiple places, each have different rules. For example, in the official site for Correspondence Chess, basically the ICCF, engines are allowed. So just make sure you are reading the rules at each site you play at.
Martin_Stahl wrote:
lfPatriotGames wrote:
Martin_Stahl wrote:
Sred wrote:
@Strangemover, #4 is clearly not allowed here. On game variations there might still be motives relevant to the game.
On 4, use of a physical board is allowed for both daily and live, however, for Live games it should be treated as touch move and going over variations would certainly be prohibited. For Daily it is completely allowed, as would a separate computer board, as long as no engines or tablebases are connected.
That's good to hear. I remember some time ago, maybe a couple years, using a real board was prohibited, even though it was as close as you can get to a real game.
I don't think it was ever officially prohibited; some people were very vocal that it should be though.
I dont remember the exact term, but it was prohibited because it was included in a list of things that were considered outside help or outside agency. Which is true, for an online experience using a real board would in fact be using an outside agency. The disagreement, as I remember, was that chess.com said it wanted to create the most realistic chess experience AND at the same time prohibited using a real board.
Maybe the realization of those conflicting viewpoints made them change their policy. Whatever reason, it's good to hear it's now allowed.
Jun 9, 2020
0
#19
ArthurEZiegler wrote:
Thanks, the answer to my question is now clear. For Daily Chess it seems 3 and 4 are allowed!
(4) is NOT allowed as you phrased it in your post.
4. Use of computer or separate board to try different lines of play
"Use of computer" is prohibited in games on this site, if the computer is equipped with a chess engine.
As a rule of thumb, in daily games you can make use of references which do not change state while you are consulting them... so a database is OK but a chess engine is not. One exception is an endgame tablebase, which is forbidden regardless of its inner workings.
I read most of an old thread that talked about cheating and am still confused. Of course phony games to increase ratings are, but I am not thinking of those. I have played a few daily chess games with 3 days for a move because I have to think about my move and don't want time pressure and also I rarely have time to sit for a full game. This is a situation that could be taken advantage of, but where the line is drawn is unclear. Official guidelines for this site would be useful. Anyway, let me list some situations and my own opinion and let me hear some feedback.
1. Use of computers or good chess players to suggest moves - Well, some correspondence chess games do seem to allow this and I think I've heard in a tournament game that is halted to resume the next day this is done, but if you are not winning by your own ability I would call it cheating.
2. Using a computer or chess player to evaluate moves you are considering to tell if they improve or worsen your position. - Although you are coming up with the moves you are not totally evaluating them yourself, again I would call this cheating! I often will let a computer analyse a game, but only after it is over. I may let a computer show it's evaluation if I am playing an unrated game against a computer.
3. Use of a book of openings or a database of games: - Apparently this is commonly accepted in correspondence chess as a means to improve the game, but still you are not doing it own your own knowledge. I say cheating.
4. Use of computer or separate board to try different lines of play - I have made use of this feature on the computer board with the Daily Chess occasionally to try out different moves and see where the game might then lead, but some do consider this cheating! The argument is you should just look at the board and visualize the moves you are considering without actually moving a piece until you make your move. Now when I played chess as a kid you could move pieces around the board as long as you told the opponent you were just trying to see something. I found doing this with the computer very convenient since it was easy to go back to your original position. Also, in the Daily Chess the board is set up to allow this. I say you are still playing your own game, just using some assistance to see possible positions and make your own evaluations. However, if on this site it is considered cheating I'll cease and desist this practice!