Unusual Rating Gaps in Daily Chess: A Discussion on Fair Play

Hello to all chess players who value fair competition, I am starting this thread to have a constructive discussion about a specific fair play concern I have encountered, and to hear if others have seen similar patterns. We all know that players can perform better in Daily chess compared to live time controls. More thinking time leads to better moves. However, I want to discuss what happens when the difference in performance is so large that it no longer seems humanly possible. Here is my recent experience, based on clear evidence: I played a user whose rating in live 10-minute games is around 500 Elo. Their games at this time control show the expected level of play for that rating. In contrast, their play in multiple Daily games is at a completely different level. We are talking about deep strategic plans, flawless long-term maneuvers, and complex tactical shots that are consistent with master-level play. The accuracy scores in these Daily games are extremely high, matching top engine moves in critical positions. The gap between a 500 Elo live player and a master-level Daily player is not a matter of thinking time. It points to a fundamental difference in chess understanding that cannot be switched on and off. This pattern is a known red flag for external assistance in the Daily format. I want to be honest about a past experience. Last year, I made a similar forum post about another user showing this exact pattern, who was a Premium member. Instead of a review of the evidence, I faced strong criticism from some forum supervisors and members. I was accused of making false accusations for simply sharing game links and analysis. That user was never banned. That experience made me wonder if there is a gap in how these cases are handled, especially for Daily chess and for accounts with subscriptions. My goal here is not to attack Chess.com, its staff, or paying members. I use and appreciate this platform. My goal is to: 1. See if other community members have witnessed this specific pattern where a player's Daily strength is impossibly higher than their live strength. 2. Discuss whether the current systems might be less effective at detecting cheating that happens only in Daily games. 3. Understand how we can best report such cases so they get a proper review. 4. Advocate for consistent and transparent enforcement of fair play rules for all accounts. I hope we can keep this discussion factual and focused on the pattern and the system. Please share your own experiences if you have seen something similar.

Instead of a review of the evidence, I faced strong criticism from some forum supervisors and members. I was accused of making false accusations for simply sharing game links and analysis. That user was never banned. That experience made me wonder if there is a gap in how these cases are handled, especially for Daily chess and for accounts with subscriptions. My goal here is not to attack Chess.com, its staff, or paying members. I use and appreciate this platform. My goal is to: 1. See if other community members have witnessed this specific pattern where a player's Daily strength is impossibly higher than their live strength. 2. Discuss whether the current systems might be less effective at detecting cheating that happens only in Daily games. 3. Understand how we can best report such cases so they get a proper review. 4. Advocate for consistent and transparent enforcement of fair play rules for all accounts. I hope we can keep this discussion factual and focused on the pattern and the system. Please share your own experiences if you have seen something similar.

As far as I know such discussions are prohibited on this forum

Perhaps the official Cheating Forum might help you

Please discuss this kind of issue in the Cheating Forum: https://www.chess.com/club/cheating-forum

Also, please note that even in the Cheating Forum public accusations are not permitted. That would include naming suspected cheaters, linking to games, etc. There are ways to discuss specific cases while still protecting their anonymity, and you can do that in there - ask in the Cheating Forum for tips if needed.