Cheating in chess is widely deemed to be the greatest threat to the future of chess. Many amateurs and even many professionals regularly state that cheating is rampant. Accusations pervade every level of chess from the lowest levels of online chess to the world championship where in 2006 Topalov rendered baseless accusations against Kramnik in 'Toiletgate'. Other baseless accusations have included those by Mamedyarov against Kurnosov regarding the below fine game played at the Aeroflot Open in 2009 and the recent ridiculous accusations against WGM Sandu in the 2015 European Women's Championship.

Unfortunately, there have also been plenty of recent cases that carried more weight. These include the cases of GM Sebastian Feller, GM Gaioz Nigalidze, and FM Christoph Nastsidis.

Although there is no doubt that cheating does occur, and that it is an important issue. I think the incidence of cheating is greatly exaggerated. When one considers how many millions of chess games have been played, the number of proven and even accused cases of cheating is marginal. In fact, I would argue that there is a greater danger to chess in the perception of cheating than in the actual act. I know multiple players who have irrationally avoided playing competitive chess because they fear playing cheaters. Personally, in hundreds of tournament games, I have never once felt the least suspcicion that my opponent was cheating.

When I was ~17, I upset a 2200 player on the old USCF server. (Sidebar - Does anyone else remember that?!) I was about 1700 at the time. He sacrificed his bishop on h7, and I took the piece and managed to hold the position. I was very proud of my defense, but the entire experience was tainted by his ensuing profane accusations of cheating. That incident troubled me far more than any actual incidents of online cheating of which I have been victim.

That said, it's both amusing and valuable to discuss ways that cheaters cheat. It's only possible to prevent cheating by understanding it and instituting measures that target actual means of cheating. I fear there is every possibility of chess security resembling the TSA - more about the 'theater of security' than actual security.

Relaying Moves

One of the most lighthearted means of cheating at chess is the act of relaying the moves between two opponents. This trick was once performed by American legend Frank Marshall against two US talents (I believe Isaac Kashdan and Reuben Fine...) in transit aboard a steamer to the chess olympiad. Marshall challenged them saying that he could play them both simultaneously and claim at least a 50% score against them. To do so, Marshall placed his opponent's in separate rooms and simply passed their moves back and forth. In fact, they were playing each other and Marshall was guaranteed one win and one loss or 2 draws from the games! The same trick was recently used by English magician, Derren Brown, as part of his act.

Some Tips To Win Online Fish Shooting Game. Tip 1: Control the speed when playing online fish shooting game: this is the right tip for all players. When participating in the shooting fish game, you should change your shooting speed by level. That means when slow swimming fish appear, you have to kill it by firing slowly. Then you have to. Your team will have an AI applied to it when selected. Same as the demo cheat. Ctrl+o Opens up an options dialog that allows you to place units, structures, & features in game. Also allows you to switch to & take control of an AI team. Ctrl+y Shows the game info & stats. Same as the timedemo cheat. These can cause game-play instability.

A similarly famous case that wasn't actually cheating occurred in the Goteburg Interzonal between Soviet and Argentinian players when the Argentinian players collectively tried a novel Sicilian variation they had prepared. The Soviet players were able to win all 3 games when the other two players took their cue from Geller who found the moves 11. Nxe6!? and 13. Bb5! in the below game.

I had a similar case in one of my games at the World Open this year. The players next to me played a theoretical line in the French Tarrasch with the White player clearly being theoretically prepared. My opponent repeated this line, and I was concerned that he would copy the better prepared neighboring player's moves, but he was oblivious to the shared opening and immediately went wrong and was lost on move 10!

Sandbagging

Sandbagging is probably one of the most annoying and prevalent forms of cheating. Sandbagging refers to intentionally deflating one's rating. Usually, this is done to have a better shot at money or trophies in tournaments. In some cases, sandbagging involves intentionally losing games. This is clearly cheating and is usually catchable. I am personally aware of a young player being told by his parents to lose games so that he could play in the U800 section at the NY scholastic championships. Disgraceful. A more subtle case that I have also witnessed is a strong player accepting draws in favorable positions against lower rated players. It is hard to act on this as you can't deny a player the right to accept a draw or to play insipidly. Finally, the most common case I have witnessed is simply players refusing to play. Many studious players choose to compete only at major opens; by refusing to play rated games between major events, they are able to improve ahead of their rating and hopefully score big at the World Open, Millionaire Open, or the like.

Cheating in the John

While our first two types of cheating are non-technical, almost all cheating today centers around the use of computers. It is not necessary for a cheater to use assistance for an entire game. Using a computer at a single critical point in the game can have a dramatic impact on the outcome of the game. There is no easier way to cheat with a computer than by using one in a toilet. In recent cases concerning GM Nigalidze and FM Nastidis, a cell phone was used in the restroom at key moments in the game. Both players raised suspicion by extended absences after their opponent had moved. These cases are generally not cases of amateur cheating. These have been cases of IMs or GMs who, in an act of cowardice, resorted to using an engine. A truly amateur player would struggle to sufficiently augment their strength to affect the outcome of the game with limited consultations.

A Hidden Device

A more effective method of cheating is to hide a device on one's person. Proof of concepts exist for hiding chess engines in one's shoes or other apparel. This method is theorized to have been used by the infamous Borislav Ivanov. GM Tkachiev has also demonstrated proof of concept for using a wireless transmitter to receive moves from an accomplice. He provides a very compelling video showing that the method is actually quite feasible.

Assistance from Friends, Seconds, and Countrymen

Perhaps the easiest method of cheating is to receive visible assistance from an assistante. This method is proposed to have been used in GM Sebastian Feller's case where his coach Hauchard stood behind different boards during the Olympiad match to communicate moves. It is possible, but not so easy to develop an inconspicious code to transmit moves, but that is not entirely necessary. Former World Champion Anand has said that simply being cued thrice in a game that a strong possibility exists would be enough to improve one's play by ~100 ELO points. For instance, when a win or strong advantage is available, a second could enter the spectator's arena. It would be extremely hard to prove such cheating. After all, what could be more natural than a second entering the room to observe a critical moment.

The Electronic Scorekeeping Device

Electronic scoresheets are an extremely natural improvement over traditional written scorekeeping. It is easier to use, less prone to errors, suitable for beginners, and allows easy distribution of games. The problem with electronic scorekeeping devices is that they imply trust that the software is above board. Almost certainly the original software is, but the software can easily be cloned. Consider the below image... Do you see the suggested move? It is barely perceptible, but the g5 square has been highlighted to show an engine's recommendation. Such a subtle hint could be almost impossible to detect if you weren't aware of what to look for. In fact, this method was recently used in scholastics in Virgina where a player tried to pass off Fritz as the approved notation software enotate.

Fictional Results, Move Counts, Touch Moves, and the Like

One can also cheat by fictionalizing in game events. One might claim touch move or the lack thereof. One famous case is that of Kasparov vs. Polgar in which Kasparov claimed he had never touched a piece despite video evidence to the contrary. One can incorrectly include repetitions or other moves on your scoresheet to throw off an opponent who has made an error in notation. One could even fictionalize a scoresheet and record of the game. Such forms of cheating are quite common in scholastic tournaments, especially with young participants who aren't taking notation. This is why I always have both players report the results personally in tournaments I direct. As for myself, I try to always make sure my opponent signs the scoresheet to confirm the result.

Play Online Chess

I see a lot of complaints about cheaters in online chess. All I can say is that any idiot can cheat in online chess. What they get out of it, I don't know.

How NOT to Cheat - Use Drugs

One cheating method that doesn't work is drug use. Drug testing in FIDE events is one of the silliest things in recent chess memory. As one player said, if there were any drugs that would help, I would take them! Unfortunately, they don't exist

Solutions

The good news is that cheating is preventable. In my opinion, most assisted cheating can be stopped with the following four methods.

1. Live transmission of games should be prohibited. Transmission of games should be delayed 2 or 3 moves to prevent assistance.

2. No electronic devices, except those provided by the tournament director, should be permitted in the playing area - this includes the restrooms.

3. Electronic jamming should be used to prohibit wireless transmissions in the playing area.

4. For high level tournaments, there should be no interaction permitted between the players and any persons not part of the tournament staff. Spectators should not even be visible to the players.

Cheating in chess certainly exists, but it is not rampant, and there are good means of preventing it. More importantly, it is worth remembering that cheating has been claimed to be the death of other sporting pursuits in recent memory. Cycling was infested with cheating in a way that would be incomprehensible in the chess community. Cyclists still cycle. In fact, there are probably more cyclists now than ever. Chess is still challenging and satisfying, it will remain so whether or not some choose to cheat.

Democrats Will Cheat To Win

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Cheat (also known as Bullshit, B.S., Bluff, or I Doubt It^[3]) is a card game where the players aim to get rid of all of their cards.^[4][5] It is a game of deception, with cards being played face-down and players being permitted to lie about the cards they have played. A challenge is usually made by players calling out the name of the game, and the loser of a challenge has to pick up every card played so far. Cheat is classed as a party game.^[4] As with many card games, cheat has an oral tradition and so people are taught the game under different names.

Rules[edit]

One pack of 52 cards is used for four or fewer players; five or more players should combine two 52-card packs. Shuffle the cards and deal them as evenly as possible among the players. No cards should be left. Some players may end up with one card more or less than other players. Players may look at their hands.

A player's turn consists of discarding one or more cards face down, and calling out their rank - which may be a lie.^[6]

The player who sits to the left of the dealer (clockwise) takes the first turn, and must call aces. The second player does the same, and must call twos. Play continues like this, increasing rank each time, with aces following kings.^[6]

If any player thinks another player is lying, they can call the player out by shouting 'Cheat' (or 'Bluff', 'I doubt it', etc.), and the cards in question are revealed to all players. If the accused player was indeed lying, they have to take the whole pile of cards into their hand. If the player was not lying, the caller must take the pile into their hand. Once the next player has placed cards, however, it is too late to call out any previous players.^[6]

The game ends when any player runs out of cards, at which point they win.

Variants[edit]

• A common British variant allows a player to pass their turn if they don’t wish to lie or if all the cards of the required rank have clearly been previously played.
• Some variants allow a rank above or below the previous rank to be called.^[6] Others allow the current rank to be repeated or progress down through ranks instead of up.^[6]
• Some variants allow only a single card to be discarded during a turn.
• In some variations a player may also lie about the number of cards they are playing, if they feel confident that other players will not notice the discrepancy. This is challenged and revealed in the usual manner.^[6]
• In another variant, players must continue placing cards of the same rank until someone calls 'Cheat' or everyone decides to pass a turn.

International variants[edit]

The game is commonly known as 'Cheat' in Britain and 'Bullshit' in the United States.^[6]

Mogeln[edit]

The German and Austrian variant is for four or more players and is variously known as Mogeln ('cheat'), Schwindeln ('swindle'), Lügen ('lie') or Zweifeln ('doubting').^[7] A 52-card pack is used (two packs with more players) and each player is dealt the same number of cards, any surplus being dealt face down to the table. The player who has the Ace of Hearts leads by placing it face down on the table (on the surplus cards if any). The player to the left follows and names his discard as the Two of Hearts and so on up to the King. Then the next suit is started. Any player may play a card other than the correct one in the sequence, but if his opponents suspect him of cheating, they call gemogelt! ('cheated!'). The card is checked and if it is the wrong card, the offending player has to pick up the entire stack. If it is the right card, the challenger has to pick up the stack. The winner is the first to shed all their cards; the loser is the last one left holding any cards.^[8]

Verish' Ne Verish'[edit]

The Russian game Verish' Ne Verish' ('Trust, don't trust') - described by David Parlett as 'an ingenious cross between Cheat and Old Maid'^[9] - is also known as Russian Bluff, Chinese Bluff or simply as Cheat.

The game is played with 36 cards (two or three player) or 52 (four or more). One card is removed at random before the game and set aside face-down, and the remainder are dealt between players (even if this results in players having differently sized hands of cards).^[9]

The core of the game is played in the same manner as Cheat, except that the rank does not change as play proceeds around the table: every player must call the same rank.^[9]

Whenever players pick up cards due to a bluff being called, they may – if they wish – reveal four of the same rank from their hand, and discard them.^[10]

In some variants, if the player does not have any of the rank in their hand, they may call 'skip' or 'pass' and the next player takes their turn. If every player passes, the cards on the table are removed from the game, and the last player begins the next round.^{[citation needed]}

Canadian/Spanish Bluff[edit]

Similar to Russian Bluff, it is a version used by at least some in Canada and known in Spain. The rules are rather strict and, while a variation, is not open to much variation. It is also known in English as Fourshit (single deck) and Eightshit (double deck), the game involves a few important changes to the standard rules. Usually two decks are used^[6] instead of one so that there are 8 of every card as well as four jokers (Jokers are optional), though one deck may be used if desired. Not all ranks are used; the players can arbitrarily choose which ranks to use in the deck and, if using two decks, should use one card for each player plus two or three more. Four players may choose to use 6,8,10,J,Q,K,A or may just as easily choose 2,4,5,6,7,9,J,K, or any other cards. This can be a useful way to make use of decks with missing cards as those ranks can be removed. The four jokers are considered wild and may represent any card in the game.

The first player can be chosen by any means.^[11] The Spanish variation calls for a bidding war to see who has the most of the highest card. The winner of the challenge is the first player. In Canada, a version is the first player to be dealt a Jack face up, and then the cards are re dealt face down.

The first player will make a 'claim' of any rank of cards and an amount of their choice. In this version each player in turn must play as many cards as they wish of the same rank.^[6] The rank played never goes up, down nor changes in any way. If the first player plays kings, all subsequent players must also play kings for that round (it is non-incremental). Jokers represent the card of the rank being played in each round, and allow a legal claim of up to 11 of one card (seven naturals and four jokers).^[12] A player may play more cards than they claim to play though hiding cards under the table or up the sleeve is not allowed. After any challenge, the winner begins a new round by making a claim of any amount of any card rank.

If at any point a player picks up cards and has all eight natural cards of a certain rank, he declares this out loud and removes them from the game. If a player fails to do this and later leads a round with this rank, he or she automatically loses the game.

Once a player has played all his or her cards, he or she is out of that particular hand. Play continues until there are only two players (at which point some cards have probably been removed from the game). The players continue playing until there is a loser. The object of the game is not so much to win, but not be the loser. The loser is usually penalised by the winners either in having the dishonour of losing, or having to perform a forfeit.

China/Iranian Bullshit[edit]

In the Fujian province, a version of the game known as 吹牛 ('bragging') or 说谎 ('lying') is played with no restriction on the rank that may be called each turn, and simply requiring that each set is claimed to be of the same number.

On any given turn, a player may 'pass' instead of playing. If all players pass consecutively, then the face-down stack of played cards is taken out of the game until the next bluff is called. The player who previously called a rank then begins play again. ^[6]

This version, also sometimes called Iranian Bullshit,^[13] is often played with several decks shuffled together, allowing players to play (or claim to play) large numbers of cards of the same rank.^[6]

Sweden[edit]

Known as bluffstopp (a portmanteau of bluff ('bluff') and stoppspel ('shedding game'.)) Players are given six (or seven) cards at the start of the game, and the remainder makes a pile. Players are restricted to follow suit, and play a higher rank, but are allowed to bluff. If a player is revealed to be bluffing, or a player fails to call or a bluff, the player draws three cards from the pile.

Games You Can Cheat With Date And Time

Additional rules and players to play more than one card in secret, and drop cards in their lap. But if this is discovered, the player must draw three or even six cards.

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abChildren's Card Games by USPC Co. Retrieved 22 April 2019
2. ^Kartenspiele für Kinder - Beschäftigung für Schmuddelwetter at www.vaterfreuden.de. Retrieved 23 April 2019
3. ^Guide to games: Discarding games: How to play cheat, The Guardian, 22 November 2008, [1] retrieved 28 March 2011
4. ^ ^abThe Pan Book of Card Games, p288, PAN, 1960 (second edition), Hubert Phillips
5. ^The Oxford A-Z of Card Games, David Parlett, Oxford University Press, ISBN0-19-860870-5
6. ^ ^abcdefghijk'Rules of Card Games: Bullshit / Cheat / I Doubt It'. Pagat.com. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
7. ^Geiser 2004, p. 48. sfn error: no target: CITEREFGeiser2004 (help)
8. ^Gööck 1967, p. 31. sfn error: no target: CITEREFGööck1967 (help)
9. ^ ^abcParlett, David (2000). The Penguin encyclopedia of card games (New ed.). Penguin. ISBN0140280324.
10. ^'Rules of Card Games: Verish' ne verish''. Pagat.com. 17 November 1996. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
11. ^'Dupyup.com'. Dupyup.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
12. ^'Bullshit, the Card Game'. Khopesh.tripod.com. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
13. ^'Board Games'. The Swamps of Jersey. Retrieved 29 November 2020.

Further reading[edit]

Games You Have To Cheat To Win

• Geiser, Remigius (2004). '100 Kartenspiele des Landes Salzburg', in Talon, Issue 13.
• Gööck, Roland (1967). Freude am Kartenspiel, Bertelsmann, Gütersloh.
• Albert Morehead (1996). Official Rules of Card Games. Ballantine Books. ISBN0-449-91158-6.
• USPC Card Game Rule Archive (under the name 'I Doubt It') accessed on 2006-05-10.

Cheat To Win Book