How many of you play games online, but have a physical board right next to you?

The whole issue is rather intriguing. Take for example the differences of online vs OTB and “touch move”. OTB - touch a piece and it must be moved . But online not so ! The nature of interfaces allows for a mouse to click on a piece, lift it and hover over a possible candidate square. Don’t like that move - simply put it back in place. An interpretation might be this is akin to “analysis” and should be against the rules. If you can do it on the 2D board - why not on your 2nd physical board? Perhaps an argument with some validity. Most all interfaces make the practice possible - a touch move rule can not be enforced.

never done this but now iwant to

Why?

to see if it would help or not

Help with what ? Your rating ?

yeah rating 

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Uh oh. I wonder what will happen if Chess.com sees that. My guess is that they will likely think that if it's good enough for the world chess championship, it's good enough for chess.com members.  I'll bet fide does not "endorse nor prohibit the practice" of looking at that other board.

Using a physical board inappropriately in live chess is cheating.

Using a physical board appropriately in live chess is not cheating.

It all comes down to moral courage, doesn't it!

Point to note... Chess.com has a setting that allows the use of DGT physical boards which could be used inappropriately.

That, and what Martin said, and what other staff have said before, pretty much settles the question of whether or not it's allowed.

I’ll say it one last time - “outside assistance” is NOT synonymous with “cheating”. This assumption is completely false. Many issues can be of assistance and not be cheating. Period.
What is not understood ? The practice is undetectable and unenforceable- hence “allowing it” never enters into the equation. The exception - as I pointed out and Martin confirmed is - if the practice is observed on camera in a live broadcast where a decision could be made either depending on various factors.

Nobody said it was. The question, originally, was if it was allowed. 

Use your noggins folks. The practice is not allowed or disallowed. It can not be detected- amazing how such a simple concept gets cluttered.

It will get asked - well, I admit to using one , nothing is said to me, therefor CC allows the practice. This too has been explained. Before any rule can be enforced - there has to be direct irrefutable evidence. Any admissions are not admissible as evidence . If observed on camera - then and only then would a ruling be made. 
In the meantime - good advice is made. Don’t use it  for analysis (which includes the taking back of any move)

Yes, therefore CC allows the practice. That's right. People here with knowledge have said it's not a big deal, to nobody is going to be banned (for relaying only the exact game moves). So is there any other possible way to interpret that as it's allowed? Everyone agrees no analysis is allowed, that was never in question. And what if it were witnessed? Then what? It would likely be the same ruling as the world chess championships, where players see their own game (no analysis) on a different board. I'll bet there is no written  rule allowing it or prohibiting it. They just do it, and nobody cares. 

PG - you seem quite concerned that validation of the practice is made. None is needed. No one thinks you are cheating or breaking a rule by using one or cares in the 1st place. Such choices are individual ones. Insistence that the site “allows the practice” is misleading as the site has no way of knowing.

You saw a previous post by a brand new young player saying - cool - I’m going to try that, maybe it will help. Was asked Why? The response was to help his rating. 
Clear example of how the practice can be of outside assistance with not a hint of any cheating. 
The purpose was not training, learning to play, comfort or more enjoyment- but to increase rating. 
Such new players should not be encouraged- who are totally unawares of all the nuances.

Yes. By "allow" I am not saying there is a written rule that says it's allowed. Although there is a written rule where it's not prohibited. By allow I mean even in instances where CC knows it's done, no action is taken. I'm not sure how else to interpret that other than being allowed. It's allowed for, I believe it's called DGT boards. That is an outside board. It's allowed at the world chess championships,  they are allowed to look at those outside boards. I dont have any reason to believe it's not allowed here. 

That's very possible. As mentioned before, some people want to play real OTB chess, and playing against people online and exactly duplicating the moves to a real board is a good way to improve OTB play. So maybe he's telling the truth, maybe by using a real board it will help his OTB rating. Maybe his whole intent is to improve his chess playing ability at tournaments and maybe with the current covid restrictions he's not able to do that. Shouldn't we be praising chess.com for giving him that opportunity?