Is using a real board considered cheating?

It is not considered cheating, because

1. Lichess doesn't know when you are using a real board,
2. I have been doing the same in longer time control games, and I have not been banned or something, so it's no issue if you mirror the moves on the real board

Only in 2020 would there be a thread suggesting that using a real chess board is a cheat.

#10 says: " I don't think it's cheating even if you move the pieces around, after all it's still your own brain only that's in use."

IT IS CHEATING and it is clearly explained in the ToS.

You are not allowed to use any kind of assistance - moving pieces around instead of calculating lines is help from outside!
You do increase your calculation ability and gain an unfair advantage over your opponent.
For example a pawn ending where you are moving your pieces around to see who queens first instead of visualizing the line in your head.

#9 is absolutely right.
In slow games you can mirror your and your opponents moves to get the OTB-feeling in case you are more comfortable with the 3D view. I have tried that when I was playing 45+45 league on another server but it was kinda boring to be left alone with a chessboard and totally awkward to make their moves. :0

What about DGT boards? What is their purpose then? To play only on board and transmit moves?

@MarkIorio Maybe you should try using the 3D board on lichess. It takes a little getting used to, but it works quite well to mimic a board. I have to select the wooden pieces and board though, the default doesn't work for me.

@A_0123456 #14 You're basically right. With a DGT board on lichess one can play a game making his/her own moves on the physical board and listening for the lichess move announcement to reproduce the opponent's move manually.
The final effect is to simulate a "real game" when playing online.

Well I am glad they are ratifying the dgt board. It use to be they were against it. And any attempt to use it with alt software was taken as detection of engine. Knowing they are accepting dgt makes me want to use mine. Dgt is the exact same as using a regulation board. You force yourself into tournament conditions. The only difference is when you transcribe your move the board will automatically send to lichess.

On the 3d board: that is an option unless you're like me and can't see the board and pieces on the 2d screen. If I go into full submerssion VR I do fine. As a matter of fact if lichess supported full VR I would prefer that over a live board. I think we are at least 10 years from that though.

On moving pieces: wow. Using engines isn't the only way to cheat. Even having a friend help you work out moves is cheating. There use to be an interface for FICS that was called "SLICS". It had the analysis board feature. Big controversy on it in the 90s because it was easy to pull it up and analyse the position during the game. Totally cheating.. There is a reason live tournaments do not allow analysis boards at the game.

@Funkmaus

IT IS CHEATING and it is clearly explained in the ToS.
Can you quote the part of the ToS you're referring to? I think you are misinterpreting.

moving pieces around instead of calculating lines is help from outside!
No it's not, because it's the same player moving the pieces. So, assuming that it is help, it's from /in/side. Of course, unless one is 'out of himself', literally: a case of split personality, a chess champion and a rookie (-:

Apart from that, I don't think it's unfair because I don't think moving pieces around on a separate board is of any help at all, if you're playing with time control. Maybe a little among absolute beginners, but who cares? They will never improve trying to analize a game during the game itself, instead of doing it after.

@AceRimmer
Yes, I tried many times to use 3D boards, they never do the trick for me. Not even the Lichess one, which is pretty good. I dunno, perspective is unreal. Maybe with a VR one... But the real thing is a whole other story anyway.

If using a real board is considered cheating, try a fake board.

(context) = use of board --> "IT IS CHEATING" + "to see who queens first instead of visualizing the line in your head"

@Funkmaus It is nice to see a titled player fit into patzer shoes to better understand how something effects the majority of us.

RESPECT!