Playing chess for money using chess engines

I open this topic to bring to public attention a website (ficgs.com)that allows its members to use software when playing chess for money.Such something is unacceptable in my opinion, I think it's also against the law but above all it is against all rules of morality.

I have had many disputes with the admin who said that from his point of view and the other members there's no problem.He exemplified as major players such as Kasparov,Anand playing with soft.My reply was that greats players play with robot to learn not to play for money against other software.

It is well known that are the best softwares in the world, so it is also annually organizes chess tournaments for these machines.A,If you create a soft chess and then go to tournaments for chess engines compete, so it's ok.This proves that you are a programmer and an excellent chess player.You got a sharpness mind and you're a personality.But someone who download a chess engine fom the net and then going to fight with someoneelse who has his soft/or not (that may be the case when the opponent plays without software) then what merit has that person? Mind not using it at all, even is a cheater in the case his opponent play without software.Those who play on FICGS I think they are sick, however they are certainly mentally retarded.

They cannot because of laziness or stupidity, or personal gain reasons to use their brains instead uses robot.When I told them they have insulted me saying even take pills for insanity.Therefore I opened this topic here and on other forums, to see other opinions.

And another thing that bothered me at that site  it was a rule that proves the monstrous greed admin namely :

" When a player wins a tournament with an entry fee (not null) and prize, he can choose after the game(s) to keep E-Points (by default) instantly added in his FICGS account or, if he has E-Points enough in his account, a money prize. Entry fees and prizes in E-Points are published on the tournament page in "Waiting lists". If games in such a tournament have not been really played for a win, for example if a participant obviously lost quickly one or several games only to allow his opponent to get the money prize (and particularly if it happens several times), these tournaments will not be considered as win and the player showing this behaviour may lose his E-points involved in the tournament at the referee's discretion."

To summarize, I lost (playing without software) against an opponent who played with robot.And obviously robot won in a few moves.But,was  left money in my account, only 7 euros, which I reclaimed. I mention,that the wasn't money from interest or profit, was just my money .

And I told this admin he is very rapacious and he block my account.

That's terrible.  Correspondence chess was killed by machines, and sites like Yahoo don't even have computer detections.  I think people should play for real and not abuse machines. 

If they allow it, how can it be cheating?

Honestly, it sounds as if you were not informed of the nature of the site and were unpleasantly suprised when you faced an extremely strong chess engine. I don't think there is any greed involved by the admins or any of the players... 

If you don't like it, don't participate. Although I don't blame you for being upset, I don't think your arguement is valid. I see nothing wrong with participating in what is considered normal Correspondence chess.

Well as far as I see it, as long as they informed you about the rules before the game then it shouldn't be a problem.

Basically engines don't understand positional ideas very well, so if both players use engines to check for tactical errors in their ideas, it would simply come down to which player has better positional intuition. You may think it is unfair, but if you knew the rules beforehand then it was your own choice to continue playing. If you didn't like their rules you could simply choose to play elsewhere where the rules are to your liking.

I didn't know the rules ,because I didn't read the TOS. I thought this site is serious like playchess.com, playok.com ,playE4, chessmoney.com ,etc. I think only this site allow playing chess for money with soft and this make me think is not a legit site....

A bit of advice:  in  all situations in life know the rules before starting.  Its your fault if you didn't read the TOS before starting, not the site's.

Is using engines in CC chess on this site generally accepted?

I use the analysis board and that's it. I would consider the use of an engine no different than using one to play live chess. Cheating.

I know ,was my fault.But I asking here if such a site is legit .Nothing else.I don't want that money back,just I want to know if this site is guided by principles and moral codes in world chess.Why another sites have security system implemented ,why not allow robots ? Because those country has stricted rules,that for civilized countries.France is not  such a country ?I don't think so. I think  only admin is suspicious.

Personally, I don't see how it is any different from any other gambling site / bookmaker. Poker, bingo, slots, roulette etc. I suppose it depends on gambling laws in the country of origin. I don't see why it would be though.

If people want to put their money on the line, machine vs machine, then I would say that is their perogative.

Here's the glitch,chess is not a gambling game,it's a mind sport.Playing with soft for money  this beautiful sport ,degrades it,trivialize it, bring him to the level of those mentioned by you :poker,bingo,etc.

That's totally legit. It also has nothing to do with gambling - really strong chess players don't just let their engines play, it's more like the human making plans and the engine verifying if they are tactically sound. Normal modern correspondence chess.

Anything that people are willing to gamble on is a gambling game. People are entitled to bet money on anything they want, providing it is legal in your country and the other person is a willing participant.

I could bet you £100 with someone on a game of tiddlywinks if I want. Football is not a gambling game yet people bet on that all the time.

If two consenting adults want to bet money on something, it's up to them.

I agree, I don't see the point in playing engine vs engine either, but if people are happy to do that and bet money on it, then fine.

Let's say you have a good computer processor and Ram and avery good engine,maybe Houdini ,the best one,and you hope your opponent has a weaker processor.What that s mean ? Mean that you gambling .

In my opinion your views are too idealistic. If you think about it carefully every chess tournament is a "gamble". You pay the registration fee, and hopefully you win the tournament and a prize. It's practically no different from gambling which is staking money and winning a prize.

Very good point

Sounds like a costly endeavor anyway.  How many games would you need to win just to recover the overhead spent on the computer itself?   Then there's the constant need to stay on top of the competition with stronger hardware, time spent supporting the system, inputting moves, upgrading software....  I could be wrong, but I think there are better ways to make money.

P.S. Do not confuse gambling and games based on skills.

When a human being play chess for money (prize) against another human being do you consider that is gambling ? I don't think so.Games of chance you meet in Casinos only,which are restricted in some countries or towns.

Kasparov or Anand play for money with software .I don't think so. 

Centaur chess is based on skills, period.