"Cheating is defined as using anything, other than your own knowledge, that gives you an advantage when playing against another user."
By this logic, your computer counts the same as my chess board. (also, that is an absolutely horrific definition of cheating - strictly speaking, playing with white is cheating according to that. So is managing your time better than your opponent. Good lord, I could probably come up with 20 perfectly legal things that fit that definition of cheating. Awful)
"There is no way to know that you are not using it as an analysis board."
This goes for everyone, not just me. There is no way to know my opponent is not using a board as an analysis aid, either. Or an engine, or a book, or a friend. This is just a terrible argument.
"Also the touch move rule applies OTB for a reason."
I abide by the touch move rule 100% thank you. People without a board may do the same thing you say I might do by hovering a piece over a square or even turning on move confirmation and making the move, looking at it, then taking it back. Also not a good argument.
"I've only been playing chess for a few years and have seen countless threads about this topic."
I'd love to see a link to a couple. I've had countless conversations, on the topic, including helping people set things up so that they can do this themselves since it's a terrific way to get better at over-the-board chess. Maybe two people have come with the same terrible arguments, and no chess site has ever had a problem with it. Not one.
"As technically it can be construed as cheating by others.
This is absolutely untrue and completely absurd.
"By this logic, your computer counts the same as my chess board. (also, that is an absolutely horrific definition of cheating - strictly speaking, playing with white is cheating according to that. So is managing your time better than your opponent. Good lord, I could probably come up with 20 perfectly legal things that fit that definition of cheating. Awful)"
That's the Lichess definition of cheating according to their terms of use I posted verbatim.
Anyway I agree with most of your points so this argument is pointless. Technically it is a grey area - I don't think you can argue it's not. If you are using a physical board to only replicate moves then that's fine. Having access to an analysis board is against the rules though. Since it is impossible to prove what you are doing with a physical board then an accusation of cheating against you after admitting it would not be absurd. That's why I suggested not mentioning it.
"That's the Lichess definition of cheating according to their terms of use I posted verbatim."
I realize that. It's a terrible definition.
"Technically it is a grey area - I don't think you can argue it's not."
I'm absolutely arguing it's not. It is absolutely clearly allowable.
"Having access to an analysis board is against the rules though."
Using one is. Everyone has access to one.
"Since it is impossible to prove what you are doing with a physical board then an accusation of cheating against you after admitting it would not be absurd."
It's impossible to prove what anyone is doing with physical boards, computers, books, friends, etc. I'm no different because the board I use is 3 dimensional. Baseless accusations of cheating are commonplace in online chess. I'm not worried about them. I appreciate your concern, but I'm not that fragile. I will happily admit to doing something which is completely legal and allowable on every chess site I've ever been on.
"Technically it is a grey area - I don't think you can argue it's not."
"I'm absolutely arguing it's not. It is absolutely clearly allowable."
- This is the only point I do not agree with you on. Going by the Lichess definition on their terms of use - using a physical board - COULD mean that you are using something "other than your own knowledge, that gives you an advantage when playing against another user."
You have called their definition of cheating "terrible" but that is beside the point. The terms are there for everyone to read and you have agreed to abide by them. The chances of anyone complaining are slim admittedly, but saying it is a non issue is incorrect.
Using a physical board does not give an advantage over the other player. That is absolutely incorrect. It is merely a different presentation of the board state. If you want to say it could be used to try out moves, so could the computer board, as I've already mentioned, via move confirmation and piece hovering. There is also nothing stopping someone from opening a different board and doing the same thing. I am not trying variations out, so I am not gaining any advantage. My opponent has only my word that I am not, but that is the same thing I have that they are not doing the same. I have no advantage here. This is where you are incorrect.
In fact, if anything, my opponent has an advantage over me, since he does not have the burden of making my moves for me on his computer, like I have to make his moves on my board. I also have to make my moves twice, while he only has to make his once. It's absurd to think that I'm gaining some sort of advantage.
"Using a physical board does not give an advantage over the other player." Can you prove that? If two players mainly play OTB but face each other online for a 45/45 match. One is using a physical board while the other is using the (not great) 3d online board and pieces. Could one not claim the other player had an advantage?
Like I said, this argument is pointless as the chances of this situation ever arising is pretty slim. But saying using a physical board is implicitly allowed in online chess and doesn't cause any debate is wrong. This thread should prove that.
Now you are just being absurd. The other player is free to use whatever pieces and board he wants as well. I mean, you are positing that anyone selecting a graphically comfortable set of chess pieces for them is cheating if their opponent doesn't bother doing the same, even though they are perfectly allowed to do so.
It is clear to me that you are just desperately grasping at straws trying to find a way that there is some advantage conferred here when there is not. I'm going to bed. I suppose if you come up with something else for me to dispel, I shall be forced to do so tomorrow. Good evening.
(And no, your nonsensical attempts at using a poorly worded definition of cheating and stretching it to mean that merely choosing a visually comfortable set of chess pieces even though your opponent is free to do the same is cheating do not "prove" that there is a debate on this subject. There isn't. No chess site even vaguely hints that you may not use a physical chess board. Period. You are mistaken about that and the logic you are trying to use to shoehorn existing rules into applying to an actual physical chess set is...tortured at best)
"The other player is free to use whatever pieces and board he wants as well."
What happens if a player disagrees with your viewpoint and interprets the TOS different to you. He might feel using a physical board goes against his moral code.
I am being pedantic here. I will admit that. But your refusal to see that some players MIGHT have a problem with you using a physical board on an online chess server which clearly states using anything "other than your own knowledge, that gives you an advantage when playing against another user."is cheating is rather silly. Your opponent could argue that the physical board must give you some sort of advantage as why else would you go to the trouble of using one?
This is a pretty pointless discussion. I've already said that personally I think using a physical board is not a big deal. You have stated that you think the Lichess definition on cheating is worded terrible. So can't we agree that it is possible that somebody somewhere could object to you using a physical board?
I can post this every month, of course such meta data has always been considered.
imgur.com/a/dKlHsI'm not an admin... but it stands to reason that detecting use of an actual board is impossible (and even if proven, we aren't FIDE and I'd be surprised if Lichess banned anyone for using a chess board).
