Cheating in chess

[Nick Ivell]

Tal's attacks were often not sound. They did however pose problems which even players like Botvinnik could not solve; this is what chess is all about.

It's not always about finding 'the best move'.

[MJMcCready]

Well, that's how we think not how computers think.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Is that actually the case?

ISTR some silicon monster study which showed many of his "unsound" sacrifices were at least good enough for a draw.

[MJMcCready]

Here is a recent example of cheating in chess. That man had some verve it must be said.

https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/othe ... WRpnzQefzU

[Tim Spanton]

Here is a recent example of cheating in chess. That man had some verve it must be said.

https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/othe ... WRpnzQefzU

The bit I like is "Kenya national champion (1487)."

[Ian Thompson]

Cheating in Go, not chess, but this caught my eye:

In 2020 a South Korean court sentenced two people to a year in prison after they were caught using AI in an official competition, using a camera and earphones and receiving computer moves from an accomplice outside.

Would the risk of a criminal conviction on their record deter most cheats, even if the accompanying penalty was negligible? The effect a conviction for dishonesty could have on job prospects and insurance, for example, could be significant.

[Matt Bridgeman]

It’s surprising that people in the UK caught with microphones and other electronics have actually been convicted in the UK courts, and been heavily fined and sent to prison. The current legislation used is here under the Gambling Act;

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/19/section/6

There’s an interesting set of definitions which chess probably only just falls outside, but probably would catch 960 Chess;

‘2)In this Act “game of chance”—

(a)includes—

(i)a game that involves both an element of chance and an element of skill,

(ii)a game that involves an element of chance that can be eliminated by superlative skill, and

(iii)a game that is presented as involving an element of chance, but

(b)does not include a sport.’

So the potential must be there for someone rigged with electronics in a 960 cash tournament could get themselves in trouble with an offence which isn’t completely alien to the police.

[Roger de Coverly]

It’s surprising that people in the UK caught with microphones and other electronics have actually been convicted in the UK courts, and been heavily fined and sent to prison. The current legislation used is here under the Gambling Act;

Wasn't the "coughing" Major convicted of obtaining money by deception?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ingram

However, he was denied the winnings due to suspicion of cheating.

Following a lengthy trial at Southwark Crown Court, Ingram was convicted on a single count of procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception.

Although a prize of a few hundred pounds in a chess tournament may not qualify as "a valuable security".

[David Gilbert]

For those old enough to remember, in 1966 an injury hit Chelsea were due to face Barcelona in the semi-final first leg of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. To avoid playing the match with a weakened team Manager Tommy Docherty called in the London Fire Brigade to flood the Stamford Bridge pitch. The match was called off. Chelsea went to Barcelona and lost 2-0, but won the rearranged home match by the same score. These were the days before penalty shoot-outs and Barcelona won the replay 5-0. Docherty got his come comeuppance and was sentenced to manage Rotherham and worse Scotland.

[Roger Lancaster]

I suppose David's post makes the point that, separate from cheating during the game, it's possible to cheat before a game - a famous old example being to arrange furniture and most particularly chairs so that an opponent is facing bright sunlight. (I suppose a current example might entail pre-match tampering with opponents' clock settings). Current anti-cheating rules seem to anticipate the former but not the latter.

[MJMcCready]

But is it really correct to call that cheating or should it come under the banner of gamesmanship?

[Matt Bridgeman]

A recent story on Hybrid Chess in the US - a suggestion that the concept is close to being ruined by the alleged trend in the US of their players (usually American juniors) possibly buying FIDE rating points from Europeans in what are effectively sham tournaments; https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1ss9qq7

[LawrenceCooper]

A recent story on Hybrid Chess in the US - a suggestion that the concept is close to being ruined by the alleged trend in the US of their players (usually American juniors) possibly buying FIDE rating points from Europeans in what are effectively sham tournaments; https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1ss9qq7

Emil has chipped in on the Twitch thread: https://twitter.com/EmilSutovsky/status ... 4400301056

[NickFaulks]

A recent story on Hybrid Chess in the US - a suggestion that the concept is close to being ruined by the alleged trend in the US of their players (usually American juniors) possibly buying FIDE rating points from Europeans in what are effectively sham tournaments; https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1ss9qq7

Emil has chipped in on the Twitch thread: https://twitter.com/EmilSutovsky/status ... 4400301056

Simply and efficiently fixed.

https://qc.fide.com/2023/05/07/qualific ... id-events/

[Roger Lancaster]

But is it really correct to call that cheating or should it come under the banner of gamesmanship?

Standard definition of cheating = "acting dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage"