Using Physical chess board for online games

?? I would have thought that is cheating    interesting.   

One would think. I assume you mean not moving the pieces other than the single intended move. But chess.com sees it differently. The rules specifically state no outside assistance of ANY kind.

The position is a valid one.

"This rule is obviously difficult to enforce, but for those who want to follow the rules, that's the rule, and the reason for the rule." MGleason

With a 2nd physical board, how many players 1st make their next move on the physical board then enter the online move? Most likely many do. This is "outside assistance" in that it provides an extra tool outside the actual game. To be completely ethical and above the board such players should enter the online move 1st and only then move the piece on the physical board. But, again, the mere fact that a 2nd board is being utilized violates the spirit of imitating OTB. 

Note taking regarding the position, any types of reminder notes are against the rules in OTB. The same people will likely argue this is unreasonable, but it is the rules. 

Another "issue" is not taken into account. This practice obviously is only practical for long time controls. But as with a large % of games, they result in a time scramble, at least the need to make moves quickly, faster than is practical by playing 2 boards.

"There is no outside or any kind of assistance if you don't move the pieces." -DierdreSkye

Huh? What world do you live in? Obviously using a 2nd "tool" is outside assistance. You may disagree that the tool is beneficial (in your particular case) but clearly it is against the rules as they are written.

It is faulty/poor logic to make the premise a 2nd board is not "assistance."

What is the 2nd board if not to provide such?

The argument the 2nd board does not provide any benefit, does not influence move choices is a separate issue. All kinds of people disagree with many of the rules that guide fair play - again is a separate issue and should not be confused with what constitutes assistance.

Assistance is not defined by whether or not it is beneficial in the mind of the person using it.

So back to the square off example which they DO allow. How is using a physical board any different if you move on the screen, then move on the physical board?

Actual board is 3D screen board is 2D, which makes a absolute difference.

So to be consistent, since the Square Off board uses a smart phone to set it up and connect online, you would have to turn your phone over so you can't see the screen once the game started?  Otherwise the 2D screen would be a second board and thus provide outside assistance?

Using an extra board, digital or physical, does assist the individual in making their moves. Obviously, right? Why else would one use it. But it is not a form of cheating in anyway. Sure, it intimidates the other player because you're giving yourself a slight advantage, but it is not an illegal one.

The reason why it is not allowed in OTB is because it disrupts the peace. How? First of all you obviously can't move the pieces around on the main board, this disturbs your opponent. Secondly, on an extra board your opponent will also see the variations you're working on and this can also be disturbing to the opponent, after all you could be tricking them and so forth. So what are you going to do - turn around each move to check your assistance board? This just stinks of a violation of code of conduct. It's very distracting. With online chess these issues do not exist.

Let's end this folks.  I have copied the response of a Chess.com moderator to the same question in another thread.  This is the official chess.com position; you may well disagree with it, but they do get to set the rules on this site.  OK?

I said a few years ago downright cheating, in a comp you don't practice move on another board at the side of you, do you? 

Deirdre

All excellent points. What strikes me as very strange is that someone from chess.com would say, all in one paragraph, that livechess is meant to imitate OTB chess as much as possible AND setting up the position on a separate board is not permitted. To me that's like a pilot training on a simulator, presumably to fly a plane, however no actual flying of a plane is allowed to further the flight simulator experience.

As you pointed out, so many things are outside assistance, and are not allowed in over the board games in tournaments, yet ARE allowed on chess.com.  Wearing PJs, listening to music, drinking wine, etc. etc are all outside assistance, yet chess.com doesn't seem to have a problem with those. Instead they have a problem with the ONE thing that imitates OTB chess the most, and thats an actual over the board chessboard. Bizarre.

I have read one article that one guy was practising chess on the computer. He went for a tournament and he felt disorientation while playing with a physical board during the competition.

It is definitely true that computer chess does not imitate OTB chess in the way your brain sees the board.  I play 95% computer, and OTB is more difficult for me, and I miss more stuff OTB.

OTB performance is better for me as I don't do other activities. I can't help myself opening more tabs during online games including live chess. Multitasking is addicting.

Yes but its downright cheating, try it at the local chess club.

I don't understand.  They use real boards at the local chess club. 

I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for using a physical board at a chess club. I dont see how it's cheating. I so see how using a computer could be cheating though. Are there chess clubs in your area that do not allow physical boards for use? 

In keeping with the "spirit" of sportsmanship, the question is thus -

In using a 2nd board, a 3D representation with actual pieces and a physical board, are the moves being played 1st online, and only then copied to the physical board? If, so, then no one has any issue. Problem exists, with making the moves 1st on a physical board, this is can be considered "an advantage" by some players. 2nd. This practice is not practical for blitz games. Also, becomes problematic for any time control, where games end in a time scramble (which a great majority do.) It simply is not practical, playing fast online and at the same time manually moving pieces on a physical board.

Hence, learn to play online with 2D representation. Or play correspondence and review with a physical board.