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Subject: Re: Detecting "fake" Humans on Fics/ICC

Author: James Robertson

Date: 18:11:41 03/10/00

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On March 10, 2000 at 14:51:21, Will Singleton wrote:

>On March 10, 2000 at 13:06:36, Masciulli Gianluigi wrote:
>
>>Is there a good way to understand if someone use a computer?
>>
>>(I remember an old tread here some time ago, If someone can tell me
>>when I'll try to look on the Archive)
>>
>>TIA
>>
>>gianluigi
>
>It's difficult to figure it out, especially with the craftier cheats.

Heh.... "Crafty"ier cheats avoid all of the below because their modified Crafty
is automated. ;)

In general though, most of the cheats I have played had fairly constant move
times, with a minumim of about 3 seconds per move.

A long wait before a game starts is a poor indication of a cheater because many
programs require a few seconds to initialize hash tables, load books, etc. for
the first move. My program has spent as long as 25 seconds to play 1. e4 from
its book. It then speeds up once it has booted IE from RAM. :)

The biggest indication is a "human" who beats a computer > 2300 (FICS) at 3 0
more than twice in a row. Then you can apply Will's suggestion of checking the
games for a lack of tactical blunders.

James

>  I will
>usually look at move-times using the smoves command on several games.  Constant
>move-times, especially in the opening (like 4 or 5 secs per move), are an
>indication.  Also, you'll typically see almost no immediate moves.  A long time
>taken for the first move can sometimes indicate that the guy is messing around
>with the colors.
>
>Other than time indications, a computer cheat can show a wide variation in
>playing strength.  You might see someone rated around 2100 beating up on comps
>in the 2500 range, then losing to humans around 1700.
>
>You could also try running the suspect games with a commercial program, looking
>for a lack of tactical errors.
>
>There are other ways.
>
>Will



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