Many chess fans constantly ask me about the issue of computer cheating and possible penalties. I answer that question and many others in my monthly ChessCafe.com article.
What do you think about the cheating problem and what should be done about it?
I think this has become a serious problem, which includes real computer-assisted cheating in amateur events and the false accusation of cheating against professionals. Anyone can be accused cheating; for instance, I was once accused of using a computer to cheat against a 1700 player and even world champions such as Kramnik and Topalov have been accused.
I believe that there should be severe penalties for both cheaters and those who make baseless accusations. A reasonable penalty is a one year ban from chess for the first offense, a three year ban for a second offense and a lifetime ban for a third offense. In fact, Reuters just recently reported that the Indian Chess Federation banned a player for ten years for computer-assisted cheating.
My full article on chesscafe.com this month is here.
Off-Topic, sorry.
Are there any .PGN files I can download from the web, which contain lots of games between class A B C level players (below master level)?
Gene Milener
http://CastleLong.com/
i think thats if someone gets accused of cheating then it should be reviewed before the player being accused is made known. this way it protects the players name while an investigation procedes. if the player is found guilty then they should be punished severely by being banned for life having there points taken away and possible retraction of any money earned while playing. there also needs to be tighter security to moniter cheaters such as inspection of clothing with metal detectors similar to airports and video monitors similar to casinos. if this happened that indian with the mobile device under his hat would have been caught right away.
the severe punishment and rigorous methods to catch cheaters will deter most of them and the ones stupid enough to cheat will get caught.
wolverine2828
FIDE needs to take control of the issue.
Three problems: both cheating and unfounded, public accusations damage the image of chess and need to be punished. On the other hand, punishing the accuser too severely may be wrong: you have to allow for the possibility that the cheater cheated but you can’t prove it.
The problem could be resolved by having an independant committee set up to accept cheating claims, require payment of a fee to review the claims, keeping everything confidential until the investigation is complete.
Everyone who cheats should be forced to study hundred of my games. They will feel so ill that they quit chess for the next 30 years.
“What do you think about the influence of the computer in chess? Is it good or bad?
I think it is very good. Today�s chess players are much stronger thanks to computer technology and software like Fritz, Rybka, Junior, Shredder, etc.”
Exactly right. I’m personally tired of all the doomsday preaching, “computers kill chess”, etc. These super-strong programs are GREAT for chess, they belong to the best things that ever happened to the development of chess as a game.
“those who make baseless accusations”. This is a biig problem. As a low rated player, this makes me afraid of genuinely performing well: what if I get accused of chaeting. I think, GM analysis of games to determine fraud based on “computer-like” moves should not be a valid way to detect fraud. The integrity of the analysis and the analyst is in question here. The only way to detect fraud is to actually find the incriminating evidence on the person. What do you think?
The proper way for a court to work is for the judge to make a decision on the punishment based on the evidence.
I think if the player is caught red handed with absolute evidence of the device then a life time ban from all money tournaments seems appropriate. I would not trust the World Open if some previous players had cheated but did not play for only one year. Anyone convicted of cheating should never be allowed to play the World Open again. period.
In certain cases where the evidence is not good, then the judge has a difficult decision.
Allowing a player to play in low money tournaments were he was allowed to win no more than his entry fee back might not be so bad. But I would not even allow that at a big money tournament like World Open because he might have an effect on the outcome.
We also need some guidelines on ethical behavior for those accusing others of cheating.
And I agree that all acusations of cheating need to be kept secret until a full investigation is complete.
BTW I am not afraid of being accused of cheating. Study hard and play your best and dont worry. I do best when I work hard on solving puzzles every day. That really helps the most.
anyway you can run my games through a chess computer and you will laugh at the idea that I could have cheated.
Gene Milener,
you could download games from ICC. Though, keep in mind that ICC rating is about 100 inflated.
Another try would be to go to ChessGames.com though they may not have many games with players below 2000.
Yeah, I think we need to be careful of the punishments for false accusers. Multiple offenders should probably face some sanctions but for a first timer perhaps only a small fine. An accuser may be wrong but that does not mean that the allegation itself was wrong. What if the suspected cheater was constantly putting a ball point pen in their ear? Is he/she receiving a transmission? Or most likely he is just a dweeb who likes sticking things in his ears?
does it matter if your falsly accused. thats gonna happen and is what might happen to catch the cheaters. id rather falsly accuse ten cheaters and catch one then accuse no one and catch no one. we need to catch cheaters. if someone is falsly accused who cares there name will be cleared so it doesnt matter.
wolverine
False accusations are serious. Once someone is accused, there will always be doubts. Unless there are controls or penalties for false accusations, there will be abuse.
What do you think players have 3000 elo ratings online but when asked to explain the technique of a basic mate like say knight +bishop+king vs king in their own words on the spot (no chance to parrot what a book says) they immediatly disconnect from server.
Not a cheater innocent guy? you tell me.