Well, if that's what people do it definitely sucks and makes it worse for everybody. They also make the game pointless for themselves in my opinion since they're not facing stronger players they'd otherwise face.
I want to add that this is probably the less severe problem with online chess. The main problem is people using computers to get hints from chess engines.
Don't ask Bilbo Baggins this.
Well, if that's what people do it definitely sucks and makes it worse for everybody. They also make the game pointless for themselves in my opinion since they're not facing stronger players they'd otherwise face.
I want to add that this is probably the less severe problem with online chess. The main problem is people using computers to get hints from chess engines.
I would "like" your comment if such a function existed haha.
And yeah I have noticed that people use chess engines, which again seems pointless. If you were using them to learn, I can understand, but play against the computer not against other players.
It's all just disappointing because to me the whole point of the rating system is that as you learn, you get better, and your rating increases. Then you change the parameters to play bigger players, and try to learn to play at that level.
As you said they make the game worse for everybody else, and they make the games pointless for themselves, except for the possible ego boost.
HOw can you tell someone is sandbagging or cheating?
HOw can you tell someone is sandbagging or cheating?
You go to their page, look at their ratings, best wins, higest ratings etc, and you can also browse through the games they've played.
HOw can you tell someone is sandbagging or cheating?
You go to their page, look at their ratings, best wins, higest ratings etc, and you can also browse through the games they've played.
The stats lie, believe me, they lie.
I notice you play blitz a lot.
One way the numbers 'lie' about people's blitz ratings is that many people play tons of games a day and can go on winning/losing streaks. I've seem many people talk about being on a losing streak and wanting to play until they start wining. This type of behaviour could cause havok with one's rating and win/loss ratio.
You could probably do better spending your time improving your game than chasing these geese. 
These sandbaggers are hurting themselves in the fact that they begin to play down to the level of their opponents and create habits around that. Inevitably, they will either fall to that sandbagged skill or simply remain at their current one. Neither is effective for the player. At least the opponent can continue to be challenged by playing against a stronger player. This does not make sandbagging not wrong, in fact, it is bad for everyone.
I usually divide myself into normal strengh and max strengh. This comes in handy when a sandbagger attacks me because I can rematch and devour him with max strengh.
This "max strength" idea is a bit ridiculous. It is better to only play a few games at your best than to play a lot of games at your "normal strength." Why waste the time and effort of cognitive chess thinking at a low level when it will only increase your boredom for the game after you reach a personal threshold? Unless you're coaching lower rated players or trying to relax with an occasional game, you're hurting yourself by doing this "normal strength" idea.
I usually divide myself into normal strengh and max strengh. This comes in handy when a sandbagger attacks me because I can rematch and devour him with max strengh.
I think rematches are unfair. It's the situation when a defeated person is willing to jump out of his shoes and a winner is relaxed. At least you need to play 3 matches to have more o less fair result.
How does wish to win correlate with sandbagging?
This "max strength" idea is a bit ridiculous. It is better to only play a few games at your best than to play a lot of games at your "normal strength." Why waste the time and effort of cognitive chess thinking at a low level when it will only increase your boredom for the game after you reach a personal threshold? Unless you're coaching lower rated players or trying to relax with an occasional game, you're hurting yourself by doing this "normal strength" idea.
Well, I just want to have relaxing games. I don't want all my games to be a 90/30
HOw can you tell someone is sandbagging or cheating?
You go to their page, look at their ratings, best wins, higest ratings etc, and you can also browse through the games they've played.
The stats lie, believe me, they lie.
Stats lie yes, but when you're playing a "650" rated player and they're playing with speed, precision or pulling moves you don't see people of my rating play with you're left with two options...
A player who deliberately loses to drop their score "sandbagger" or someone using a chess engine. Either way it's wrong, it's frustrating and it's just simply pointless.
I'd say someone with a 728 rating is going to be more prone to find opponents 'playing with speed, precision or pulling moves you dont see people [your] rating play'.
This is in no way meant to be a stab at your rating. We all started there.
But, really, someone as inexperienced as yourself, and even me, are not going to be able to accuratly decide if someone is sandbagging.
Better to put your energy toward improving your game.
I'd say someone with a 728 rating is going to be more prone to find opponents 'playing with speed, precision or pulling moves you dont see people [your] rating play'.
This is in no way meant to be a stab at your rating. We all started there.
But, really, someone as inexperienced as yourself, and even me, are not going to be able to accuratly decide if someone is sandbagging.
Better to put your energy toward improving your game.
Considering both my Uncle and Dad are members on this site, and both are much much better players than I, have also noticed people sandbagging against me, or have pointed out when someone is using a chess engine, I'd say my rating has nothing to do with it.
Also my rating is due to the fact that I have a very short attention span meaning I find it very difficult to concentrate, and I also don't take the game of chess all that seriously because I play for fun. Not to try and win tournaments, or trophies or even to improve my game all that much.
And as you said yourself, players go on winning and losing streaks, and I have been up between 900-1000 a few times.
Then why are you so twisted about this percieved sandbagging?
Even if they're sandbagging, you should be happy to play a high-rated player. Just think you're playing a coach, or an expert, and try to learn from those games.
He already said he's not interested in learning.
Then why are you so twisted about this percieved sandbagging?
Sandbagging definitely happens on this site kleelof. I have reported a number of the most obvious cases, usually where a string of games is lost in a few moves, and the accounts have been duly banned.
I know it's not a major problem, but it does happen, and it is annoying for low rated players in particular, whom these rather sad people generally prey on.
As a genuine low level player, I enjoy a bit of friendly competition, and I don't really ever get upset when I lose a game, after all it is only a game.
It amazes me however how many players deliberately lose games in order to drop their score, so that they are able to appear as a lower level player.
What does ruin my fun, and makes me think poorly of this website and how it is programmed, is when these "sandbaggers" if you will, whose ability is far above my own, and all other true lower level players, come down to the lower levels in order to "beat up on" or "bully" us.
Honestly I do not understand why. I mean how much satisfatction can you actually get from beating the easiest opponents on the site? I enjoy winning, but what I enjoy more is playing people of my own level, and having epic battles to the point we're it's anyone's game, whether I win or lose.
Like with FIFA, if you're playing on the easiest level and winning by 25 goals to nil, what's the point of even playing?
Are people genuinely that afraid of losing, that they have to essentially "cheat" to win, in order to make themselves feel better?
And why isn't there some sort of policing, to ensure that people aren't able to "sandbag" or "cheat" or drop their score.
It's disappointing because I know I'm not the only one who has to put up with this, and it's genuinely unfair to people who are trying to have fun or learn more about chess.
I'll keep playing for now, and I refuse to disparage anyone, even the "cheats", but I know that chess.com is losing members because of this issue, and even I'm considering deleting my account because the joy of playing is beginning to disappear as a result of these individuals.
Play fair. It's not that hard.
And remember, winning isn't everything.