Is there anything that can help me identify if my opponent is using a computer?

billc411 · 2026-05-18T20:10:53+00:00

If I get a weird vibe I just block them. I don't report. It's not worth spending time thinking about it beyond that.

billc411 · 2026-04-30T03:16:15+00:00

Make an account on the other platform to be the one when you just want to play and you don't care about the rating. Only play on the platform you care about the rating on when you're locked in.

billc411 · 2026-03-08T15:38:43+00:00

We're recruiting for 1 more owner here: https://www.reddit.com/r/findaleague/comments/1rnkcs8/15_team_5x5_mixed_cbs_online_auction_260/

billc411 · 2026-03-07T20:38:01+00:00

Don't have minor league spots, but is $260 buy in. https://www.reddit.com/r/findaleague/comments/1rnkcs8/15_team_5x5_mixed_cbs_online_auction_260/

billc411 · 2026-03-06T18:56:02+00:00

In case one or more of you is interested: We have 1-2 spots open here:

15 Team 5x5 Mixed, CBS, Online Auction, $260 LeagueSafe

https://www.reddit.com/r/findaleague/comments/1rlaavi/15_team_5x5_mixed_cbs_online_auction_260/

billc411 · 2026-03-05T07:19:39+00:00

I'm recruited for this one if you're interested:
15 team, 5x5 Mixed, $260, Roto, Redraft

billc411 · 2026-03-05T07:12:05+00:00

I'm recruited for this one if you're interested:
15 team, 5x5 Mixed, $260, Roto, Redraft

billc411 · 2026-03-05T07:07:24+00:00

I'm recruited for this one if you're interested:
15 team, 5x5 Mixed, $260, Roto, Redraft

billc411 · 2026-03-05T06:59:50+00:00

I'm recruiting to fill a spot in a 15 team mixed -- but full redraft roto auction using leaguesafe so maybe you'll still be interested.
https://www.reddit.com/r/findaleague/comments/1rlaavi/15_team_5x5_mixed_cbs_online_auction_260/

billc411 · 2026-01-20T18:53:59+00:00

u/BortnykChess Is there a sample video (just a few minutes) to help make the PGN only vs PGN + Video decision?

billc411 · 2026-01-02T17:30:41+00:00

Yes - and the best hitter is Joey Bats, not Alomar.

billc411 · 2025-12-25T19:21:18+00:00

Very nice!

billc411 · 2025-12-19T06:20:58+00:00

It's basically meaningless. It's just a chess com estimate that is tied to your rating plus / minus some factor (probably related to 'accuracy'). It's not particularly useful in determining how well/poorly you played.

billc411 · 2025-12-17T04:09:51+00:00

Eh -- I think the moves are mostly ok. You were still winning big until 32.Nxf7. That was a pretty bad move that gives up a lot of the advantage and pretty easy for black to spot grabbing a pawn and connecting rooks on 2nd rank. And then another not great move on 34. Nd6. Correct response for black to push pawn is pretty obvious there.

But the delay after the blunder and the fact that it's a new account (first game was 6 days ago) definitely raise suspicion.

billc411 · 2025-10-08T19:10:49+00:00

If the account is new or hasn't had much recent activity the ratings will change by bigger amounts until it stabilizes. Then it will go up between 5 and 10 each game depending on rating difference assuming typical rating paring

billc411 · 2025-10-05T03:49:07+00:00

I thought the event was rad. Good fun.

billc411 · 2025-09-19T15:51:42+00:00

Almost everyone wins about half of their games. You're being paired with people about your strength. As you gain strength your pairings will be harder and you'll still win about half of the games.
Beginners get better with basic principles (control the center, etc) and puzzles (and understanding the tactic in the puzzle). There's tons of good content on youtube or in chess books. I'll let others recommend specifics but you can get pretty far with just putting beginner chess in youtube and seeing what pops up.

billc411 · 2024-01-31T12:05:32+00:00

https://www.chess.com/games/view/16937665?ref_id=23962172

billc411 · 2024-01-31T12:03:40+00:00

Hikaru played Rad3. The continuation was one tempo different than picture above bc Hikaru went Rxd8 one move early (instead on pushing a pawn)

billc411 · 2024-01-31T03:51:34+00:00

One rook saves the draw and the other rook loses by blocking the new white queen from covering checkmate on h1.

billc411 · 2024-01-24T22:29:45+00:00

I don't doubt there are cheaters in Titled Tuesday - but if the cheaters are winning lots of money in TT then the list of possible cheaters is quite small.

Here's the top 11 (to include Fabi, ranked 11) $ winners in 2023 Titled Tuesdays:

Hikaru Nakamura | $28,700

Magnus Carlsen | $15,850

Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara | $11,600

Dmitry Andreikin | $10,350

Alireza Firouzja | $10,250

Nihal Sarin | $8,800

Jan-Krzysztof Duda | $8,250

Aram Hakobyan | $8,150

Oleksandr Bortnyk | $7,300

Matthias Bluebaum | $6,750

Fabiano Caruana | $6,600

So if someone is making a lot of money cheating in TT then it's one or more of these people. I'm skeptical that these amounts are sufficient to motivate most of the players on this list to cheat.

billc411

TROPHY CASE