Copying moves in online chess - is it fair?

Hi,

We are playing in a tournament, both games started in the same time. One of my opponent is always waiting for my move on one table then he take "my" move on other table against me. Here are the games (now in 9th move): Removed. No naming and shaming. Mod.

What can I do? Shall I offer myself a draw on both table?

It is a Carokann thematic tournament, so wait a little since you just left opening theory.

If it continues, report him: mirroring games is form of cheating.

So maybe you are both wanting to play the same book moves... if this continues well out of book then it is somewhat suspicious but right now, nine moves in... don't be so paraniod! After all you are playing in a thematic tournament where the first 3/4 moves were played anyway so the fact that the following 4/5 moves have been the same isn't that unlikely.

If he is still copying after 15-20 moves in then it probably will be an issue. However, so early in a closed game like the advance Caro-Kann it's no big deal.

You can try to bring the time out of balance. Speed up one game with conditional moves, and wait on the other one. Then you can deviate on the game that is one move behind.

Thanks. Maybe I am really paranoid, but I have never met a behavior like this.

The main line of the Caro-Kann advance variation is 4 Nf3 (1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3  e5 Bf5 4 Nf3).

The side lines in the order of incidence: 

1. 4 Nc3
2. 4 h4
3. 4 Bd3

On the one hand it is strange that both of them play the same side line (4 Bd3).

And on the other hand 9 Bd2 is missing in the opening book. All of moves are the same, presently the last move is 11 Ne2.

Can it be said, it is not suspicious?!

Don't offer a draw, inform staff. They should be able to stop this. Use the "Help & Support" link at the bottom of the page.

You could offer a drawl...

Where in chess.com's rules does it say that this is cheating? As Zinsch said, it is easy to refute anyway. Play slow in one game and fast in the other so your opponent soon won't have anything to copy.

This won't work: the guy is copying moves, so being one move behind is an impossibility. If the opponent had a basic membership it would be easy to break the simetry, for instance:

#1 Game A: wait for the opponent to be presumly sleeping and then make your move. It's then your opponent turn.

#2 Game B: since your opponent was sleeping, he will only manage to copy your move from game A after, say, 8 hours.

#3 Game B: it's now your turn. Wait almost until your flag drops, for instance, 2 days and 23 hours.

#4 Game A: your opponent has been waiting for your move at game B: however, he will only manage to see this move after 2days, 23hours + 8hours, so he will have to make his own move or lose on time. If he makes a move, you can deviate from it at game B.

Unfortunately your opponent has a premium membership, which means he has auto time-out protection. You can use this scheme multiple times to burn his vacancy time, but probably it will take a long time before it takes any effect. If you have more vacancy time than him,you can enter vacancy to force him to make a move, at a cost of probably much of you own vacancy time. Anyway, it can be a more substantial evidence for chess.com to act accordingly.

I think it might be a no vacation tournament. There have been 30% timeouts out of just over 600 games.

Just standard for the later rounds of tournaments. People get banned, leave the site etc.

Ah ok. Thought it was an unusually high number, guess not

Draw yourself!
Otherwise you will beat yourself but at the same time you will lose to yourself, very contradictory statements.  Just draw it man.

Well, it is high to be fair, but the standard chess.com ones are normally around 20% without 'no vacation', I bet a few others are higher.

Don't offer a draw: that's exactly what your opponent wants. I think his strategy is clearly drawing the highest rated opponent while trying to win the other games.

I contacted support. I will inform you about decision.

Easy. Wait til you only have a few minutes left before you move. You may make him time out on the other game.

Just hang on a while... this guy is living in Singapore (presuming his flag is correct) he will be going to bed soon. You could easily do what intrepid_spiff said and make a move on one to bring the time out of sync while he is sleeping. Singapore is +7 hours on Budapest =)

Please do let us know, I'm interested to know if there is in fact a specific rule against this.

P.S. Yes, I am much, MUCH too lazy to go and look for it.