The perception of cheating levels is orders of magnitude more than the actual amount. The vast majority of games and players are clean.
https://support.chess.com/article/648-what-do-i-need-to-know-about-fair-play-on-chess-com
https://www.chess.com/article/view/online-chess-cheating
https://www.chess.com/article/view/chesscom-update-august-2025#FairPlay
The site closed more than 116,000 accounts in July for fair play violations and has a full team of staff working on reports along with some automated systems for detection.
https://www.chess.com/article/view/fair-play
https://www.chess.com/cheating
That said, discussions of cheating, potential cheating, or cheat detection are not allowed in the general forums. If you would like to discuss join the following club
https://www.chess.com/club/cheating-forum
The Case for a Chess Credibility Credit System --- 1. The Problem: A Crisis of Trust Cheating is rampant: With free, powerful engines available to anyone, cheating is the easiest it’s ever been. Ban inflation: Chess.com alone bans more accounts than it has active players in some cycles. This means the current approach (detect → ban → repeat) is unsustainable. Disposable accounts: Free sign-ups make cheating “risk-free.” If caught, just make another email and start over. Erosion of legitimacy: When players doubt their opponents, the game itself loses integrity. Ratings feel meaningless, tournaments lose credibility, and new players drop out. --- 2. Why a Chess Credit System Is Needed Analogy: the financial world Banks solved the trust problem with credit scores. Without them, fraud and default would paralyze lending. Chess is facing the same dilemma: too much fraud (cheating), too many “defaults” (fake accounts). The solution isn’t more bans; it’s a trust ledger. Benefits: 1. Accountability → Your identity anchors your credibility; bans stick. 2. Tiered play → Casual pool stays open and fun, verified pool becomes the serious, trusted arena. 3. Reputation as currency → Just like credit history, your chess credibility score becomes an asset worth protecting. 4. Cheating deterrent → The higher the barrier to re-enter verified pools, the less appealing cheating becomes. 5. Restored faith → Players can trust results again, knowing their opponents are verified and invested. --- 3. The Solutions: How It Works A. Verified Identity Layer Players submit real ID once (passport, license, or equivalent). Database confirms identity but doesn’t show real names to opponents. Players get a Credibility ID tied to their rating. B. The Chess Credibility Score (0–100) Factors: verified ID, move accuracy vs engine, progression consistency, ban history, peer reports. Tiers: 90–100 Gold → prize events, official tournaments. 70–89 Verified → normal competitive play. 50–69 Monitored → casual-only pools. <50 Restricted → must rebuild credibility through clean games. C. Two-Tier Rating System 1. Casual Ratings (unverified): fun, fast, disposable. 2. Credible Ratings (verified): official, persistent, recognized by tournaments and FIDE. D. Privacy Safeguards Real names hidden unless player opts in. Only governing body (Chess.com/FIDE consortium) sees ID. Appeal process for disputes, just like credit bureaus. E. Rollout Path 1. Phase 1: Optional “Verified Pool” introduced on major platforms. 2. Phase 2: Credibility scores displayed alongside ratings. 3. Phase 3: FIDE and major organizers require credibility scores for official events. --- 4. Anticipated Pushbacks & Counterarguments “It kills anonymity.” → No, players can still use pseudonyms. Only the central system sees ID. “It’s too strict for casuals.” → Casual pools remain open and free; credibility required only for official scores. “Cheaters will find a way.” → True, but just like credit fraud, it becomes expensive and rare, not casual and rampant. “It centralizes too much power.” → Can be decentralized: multiple platforms feeding into a shared ledger (even blockchain-backed). --- 5. The Bottom Line Without structural change, online chess risks becoming meaningless — a game where everyone assumes cheating is the norm. A Chess Credibility Credit System flips the script: Players value their reputation. Organizers trust their events. Platforms reduce endless bans. It won’t eliminate cheating entirely, but it will shrink it from a flood into a trickle — restoring chess as a contest of minds, not machines.