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Subject: Re: How can we ever have Regular(non GM)tourneys on the net when comps exist

Author: Dann Corbit

Date: 17:13:09 11/01/99

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On November 01, 1999 at 19:56:01, Charles Unruh wrote:

>How can we ever have Regular(non GM)tourneys on the net when comps exist.
>People are always talking about how the internet is the future of chess.
>However how can anyone reasonably trust ones opponents.  They can use books,
>computers, even assistance from stronger players.  I'm cheated on so much on the
>net that i don't even play on ICC or FICS, i just look.  Besides from what i can
>see playing many blitz games does NOTHING to improve your game.  For example
>Mindman on FICS a real life 1600 uscf player when he started on fics 3 or 43
>years ago.  Around the time he started he maintained a 1600-1750 internet
>rating, now after 13000 games! his rating has dropped to 1300(steady) internet.
>This guy is actually a PH.D so it's not because he's a moron either
It seems that the possible explanation you are looking for is computer cheaters.
 This is one possible explanation.  It is also true that players abiltity tends
to degrade somewhat over time.  In any case, you can only improve your game by
playing against better players.  I think computer cheating is pretty bizarre,
since the rating means nothing anyway.  Suppose you played against nothing but
deep blue, disguised as "patzer_player" elo 1000.  Of course, you would get
whupped again and again, but the powerful engine would reveal the weaknesses in
your game.  So even then there is a hidden benefit.

I don't think that the internet is going to replace OTB tournaments.  I don't
think anybody believes that.  But it is a good place to find a fun game, isn't
it?  And if you play against a cheater, that's just part of the risk.  They have
sold their integrity for the hollowest imaginable victory -- a fake rating that
does not even matter.




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