Our Commitment to Integrity
We believe chess should be played with honesty, respect, and a love for the game. These principles guide every rule and enforcement action we take.
Zero Tolerance
Cheating of any kind undermines the spirit of chess. We actively detect, review, and penalize violations.
Transparent Enforcement
Clear rules, consistent moderation, and a fair appeals process ensure trust across our community.
Community Responsibility
Every player helps maintain fair play by reporting suspicious behavior and upholding sportsmanship.
What's Allowed & What's Not
To ensure fair competition, all players must adhere to the following guidelines during games and tournaments:
No External Assistance
Using chess engines, AI tools, analysis apps, or receiving advice from humans (including coaches, friends, or streaming chat) during a game is strictly prohibited.
No Account Sharing
Accounts are personal and non-transferable. Sharing logins, playing on behalf of another user, or smurfing to manipulate ratings violates our terms.
Post-Game Analysis Encouraged
Reviewing your games with engines, studying openings, and using training tools outside of active matches is fully supported and encouraged.
Sportsmanship Required
Harassment, toxic behavior, deliberate stalling, or refusing to acknowledge game results will result in warnings or suspensions.
No Rating or Tournament Manipulation
Collusion, rating farming, exploiting bugs, or manipulating tournament pairings/seeds is strictly forbidden and will result in immediate penalties.
How We Detect Cheating
ChessMaster Forum employs a multi-layered approach to identify and prevent cheating, combining automated systems with human expertise:
Pattern Recognition AI
Our proprietary algorithm analyzes move accuracy, time usage, and deviation from engine evaluations to flag suspicious activity.
Statistical Anomaly Detection
Sudden rating jumps, perfect move correlation, and inconsistent time distribution trigger automated reviews.
Human Moderation Team
Flagged accounts are reviewed by our team of titled players and security analysts who evaluate context and evidence.
Community Reporting
Player reports are taken seriously. Every submission is logged, investigated, and acted upon within 48 hours.
How to Report Suspected Cheating
Help us maintain a fair environment. If you suspect a player of cheating, follow these steps:
Click "Report Player"
Found on the game board, tournament page, or player profile. Select the relevant reason (e.g., Engine Use, Account Sharing, Toxic Behavior).
Provide Evidence
Include game ID, timestamps, screenshots, or chat logs. The more context you provide, the faster we can investigate.
Wait for Review
Our team reviews all reports within 48 hours. You'll receive a status update via email or in-app notification.
🔒 All reports are confidential. We never disclose reporter identities or share investigation details publicly.
Penalties & Appeals
Violations are handled proportionally based on severity and history. Our goal is to protect the integrity of the platform while allowing players to learn from mistakes.
| Violation Level | First Offense | Repeat Offense | Severe / Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor (Stalling, Minor Toxicity) | Warning + 24h cooldown | 3-day suspension | Match forfeit + 7-day ban |
| Moderate (Suspected Assistance) | Game forfeiture + Review | 14-day suspension | 30-day ban + Rating adjustment |
| Severe (Confirmed Engine/AI Use) | Immediate 30-day ban | Permanent ban | Permanent ban + Tournament disqualification |
| Account Sharing / Smurfing | Account suspension | Permanent ban | Permanent ban + IP/device flags |
Appeals Process
If you believe an action was taken in error, you may submit an appeal via our Support Portal. Appeals must be submitted within 14 days of enforcement. Provide clear evidence, and our review committee will respond within 5 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Standard chess clocks, PGN notation software, and opening books are allowed as long as they do not provide move suggestions or analysis during the game.
Games played while using external assistance will be removed from your rating history. You may receive a rating adjustment proportional to the games affected.
Yes. Tournaments have stricter enforcement. Any suspected violation results in immediate disqualification. Prize money may be withheld pending investigation.
Email us at fairplay@chessmasterforum.com or submit a ticket through in-app Support. We respond within 24–48 hours.
Play Fair. Play Smart.
Help us keep ChessMaster Forum a place where skill speaks loudest. Report violations, play with integrity, and elevate the game together.