How is a cheat spotted?

I've heard rumors about cheating on this site. I did a search but didn't find anything about it. If I understand it correctly, one of the ways to cheat is to use a chess program to coach you in your moves. How is that spotted? I mean, how is it possible to spot someone using a chess program rather than that marvelous device between their ears?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Bob😲

rather easily for those who know, If one is suspected of cheating the games are then checked against the many different chess engines that are out there, by the moderators, and if it is determined that there is overwhelming evidence, the player is banned from the site.

Originally posted by blowfish
I've heard rumors about cheating on this site. I did a search but didn't find anything about it. If I understand it correctly, one of the ways to cheat is to use a chess program to coach you in your moves. How is that spotted? I mean, how is it possible to spot someone using a chess program rather than that marvelous device between their ears?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Bob😲

The mods have a checklist of factors which they use to determine whether one is cheating or not.

Factor 1: Asks how cheaters get caught in the help forum. Check!
Factor 2: etc, etc

D

I think some of them actually have stripes.

I think having a thousand games with only one loss is considered suspicious.

Originally posted by blowfish
I've heard rumors about cheating on this site. I did a search but didn't find anything about it. If I understand it correctly, one of the ways to cheat is to use a chess program to coach you in your moves. How is that spotted?

Having a rating-graph looking like an Olympic downhill slope is a good indication.

(ref. Crocrew - User 162765)

Originally posted by ViA
Having a rating-graph looking like an Olympic downhill slope is a good indication.

(ref. Crocrew - User 162765)

You would have trouble finding a skier confident enough to go down a sloe that steep.

An 800 point increse since 19th of september is very impreseive, then take into account the rest of the time on the site he showed little improvement drifing between 1250-1450.

One stripe, and of a light colour.🙂

Originally posted by ViA
Having a rating-graph looking like an Olympic downhill slope is a good indication.

(ref. Crocrew - User 162765)

seeing that profile made me take a quick look at the "removed players" list to see if he was on it, noticed that its getting pretty long now huh

Originally posted by MCA
seeing that profile made me take a quick look at the "removed players" list to see if he was on it, noticed that its getting pretty long now huh

Where is the list?

Originally posted by reader1107
Where is the list?

Site Map -> Game moderation, Removed Players.

http://www.timeforchess.com/comhub/removedplayers.php

Thanks! I was trying to find it from the menus on the top!

Lots of ski slopes...

How is it possible to detrmine if someone is using chess software to cheat?

Originally posted by EAPOE
How is it possible to detrmine if someone is using chess software to cheat?

It depends. If you tend to play e4 e5, nf3 nc6, bb5, you will be subjected to a Spanish Inquisition.

If you play the Sicilian, they will shoot you first and ask questions later.