Local Rules for Mobile Telephones

[John Upham]

"As a recent AGM I was informed that "nobody cheats in local league matches" "

I wonder if they really believed that? If I had been told that, I might have gone into full "Musk-mode", only not as subtle...

The nonsense spouted to me was followed by the usual "We are a friendly league....." guff as if there are non-friendly leagues!

Obviously non-rated games are probably so regarded and I can live with that but a rated league clearly has obligations towards the players and the rating system.

[NickFaulks]

At FIDE rated events, I really wish a sign could be nailed to the entrance saying in huge letters TURN OFF YOUR PHONE!!

For Hampshire junior events we have these sign for all rated events regardless of being FIDE rated.

That is certainly a good idea in general, but it is less crucial when the evenings of two players cannot be wrecked by a single beep.

I could be wrong but I get the impression that some think not having Fair Play conditions for ECF rated only events is OK.

Yes, that sounds like my view. This is not because I believe cheating is an unimportant issue, but rather that I find FIDE's Fair Play rules have in practice little to do with cheating.

"Its not FIDE rated so it does not matter and nobody cheats anyway"

That could hardly be my view, since I was a victim of the first player to be caught incontrovertibly in the London League. However, that opponent had evidently taken the sensible precaution of muting his device, as I presume all well organised cheats do.

[Paul Cooksey]

Can someone explain the guiding principle here?

Proportionality, although I am too lazy to try to explain it.

It seems to me Berks, and the other leagues who shared their rules, primarily have 1st generation rules to prevent distractions rather than 2nd generation rules to discourage cheating.

As to whether engine consultation takes place during league or county matches, there have been allegations. There's invariably a reluctance to name perpetrators or even the method used. That has also applied to the ECF with Congresses.

I can give an example of one issue a Crowthorne player had last season in a different event. His opponent was consulting a phone during the game and was defaulted by the arbiter. But of course everyone agreed there was no question he might have been cheating, it was just that he had violated the no phones rule. That simplicity is an argument for a clear rule, such as all phones off, or must remain on the table.

[Roger de Coverly]

It seems to me Berks, and the other leagues who shared their rules, primarily have 1st generation rules to prevent distractions rather than 2nd generation rules to discourage cheating.

Having contiributed to the drafting of the current Berks rule, it was in my mind that phones should be switched off for the entire game, because of the consultation risk. That doesn't have to be direct engine assistance, it could also be text message hints and suggestions. There's a defined penalty for noise but not a sanction if it later gets switched back on and muted.

[David Williams]

Although I don't think it's practical for the laws to be enforced as strictly in leagues as in tournaments, leagues do have one advantage. If you're cheating regularly you'll find it very hard not to raise the suspicions of your team-mates.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"If you're cheating regularly you'll find it very hard not to raise the suspicions of your team-mates."

You still have the issue of will they (a) be disgusted, (b) cover it up or (c) ignore it and pretend it isn't happening?

[Alex McFarlane]

You still have the issue of will they (a) be disgusted, (b) cover it up or (c) ignore it and pretend it isn't happening?

There is a fourth option which I think can apply frequently and not just about using a phone.
d) Enter denial mode.
Ignore the evidence because A is such a nice person they would never do anything wrong. Everyone who thinks otherwise is wrong.

[Ian Thompson]

You still have the issue of will they (a) be disgusted, (b) cover it up or (c) ignore it and pretend it isn't happening?

There is a fourth option which I think can apply frequently and not just about using a phone.
d) Enter denial mode.
Ignore the evidence because A is such a nice person they would never do anything wrong. Everyone who thinks otherwise is wrong.

A fifth option would be

e) Have little doubt it's happening, but be unwilling to deal with the difficult situation that would arise if they confronted the player and accused them of cheating to their face.