Attitude Adjustment

Endless online play can affect one's mental health. Playing mostly game 10 arena on chessdotcom, I become suspicious that many of my opponents are cheating. Some are. Over a period of several years, 15% of those I lost to had their accounts closed. Nonetheless, it is clear from the games that many of them did not cheat when they played me. It is also quite clear that some occasional cheats remain on the site. One player, currently rated in the 900s, was just under 1200 when he destroyed me with subtle bishop maneuvers and less than .06% inaccuracy (think of Magnus Carlsen on a good day). I've found no evidence that he has cheated in other games. 

My suspicions of one frequent opponent appear unfounded on closer examination. Since 2024, we have played 11 games. I won seven of the first eight. The one loss resulted from my terrible blunder on move three on the White side of a King's Gambit. Three of our four games in 2025 were 50 moves or more and every one was a victory for me. These were hard fought games.

He won the first game we played in 2026, which was 6 October, having played a far better game than I expected (94% accuracy on the website's postgame analysis). When I faced him again on 15 October, I assumed that I was facing a cheater and felt a sense of despair throughout the game. My suspicions interfered with my focus on the position. He won.

Postgame analysis revealed that neither of us played particularly well, but my play was far worse.

An hour later, we were paired again and my suspicions still lurked in my thinking. But, I knew that he was capable of error. I resolved to play my best and the battle seemed close to equal until late in the game. Maybe I had some initiative.

After my 32nd move, his clock stood at 4:59 and mine at 5:41 (it was game 10).

Black to move

32...b6

This move complicates the contacts among our forces where the battle is taking place on the queenside. According to Stockfish 19, 32...Qg4 was the only move that maintained equality. My opponent used 23 seconds for his move.

33.cxb6

I did not consider 33.Ba4, which is Stockfish's alternate choice. Both moves have approximately the same evaluation. My move took less than 8 seconds. His reply came quickly.

33...Rxb6

Here I felt the need to calculate and thought that I was in serious trouble. My former suspicions lingered in the back of my mind as I tried to find the correct move. I found the only move that doesn't lose after 1:46, but I didn't yet perceive that I had any sort of advantage.

34.Bxc6

Black to move

34...Qc7??

This move loses to the combination that I found. I expected 34...Rxb4 35.Bxd7 when White has an extra piece.

34...Rxc6 was necessary. I would have played 35.Ra8+ when 35...Kh7 loses to the same combination played in the game. 35...Kf7 is more challenging.

35.Ra8+

Played quickly in under ten seconds.

35...Kh7

35...Kf7 holds out longer

36.Qxe7!

I saw the move instantly, but spent 47 seconds verifying that I wasn't missing anything.

36...Qxe7 37.Ng6 and Black resigned.

After this game, I reviewed all eleven games that I've played against this particular opponent. I should be happy when we are paired and should approach the game with attention and confidence. I have eight wins and three losses against him. Two of those losses were this month. I also reviewed his overall performance during twelve years on the site. Like me he has been over 2000 in rapid and has dropped from there into the 1600s, and sometimes lower. During our games two years ago, his rating ranged from 1543 to 1703. When he beat me 6 October this year, he was 1927.

His graph shows that his lows drop lower than mine, but also that he was rated consistently higher than in the time we have been playing.

Fears of cheating greatly exceed instances of foul play. Of course I will face cheaters if I play game 10 arena daily. The website will close some of these accounts, and a few will escape consequences. My suspicions should not be permitted to affect my play.