Switching to cheating at some point in the match...

Somehow I get the impression recently that cheating is "switched on" in the course of a game that runs into an unfavorable direction...
Example: After the opening, I got an advantage (together with an impression that I might be a stronger chess player).
From then on, it feels like playing against a wall: rock solid moves, sometimes navigating flawlessly through sharp positions if necessary, and so on. In the end, I lose (sometimes it is a close call, sometimes with a huge margin).

The analysis of the match then shows that there were only few (if any) inaccuracies in the later stage of the game by my opponent, together with very low ACL, which seems to confirm my feeling described above.

Any other guys that noticed something similar?

That's called "toggling", switching between human and engine. It's harder to detect these cheaters.

It's also possible your opponent did just play well later in the game because their moves were quite obvious, or you didn't create many problems for them.

Could you link an example game?

I love how you guys not only acknowledge this activity to the extent that you're aware of it, but so aware of it that you have an actual name for it. I tried to explain this to people on other servers in the past and it was, naturally, like talking to a brick wall.

Of course players do this. It's unfathomable to me how someone couldn't see that this would be the next logical step in the cheater trying to bypass a network like this with a lot of cheat detection.

@ NMjposthuma #2 - discussion of actual games re cheating is a no-go here, any links should be sent to the mods with a ticket.

And yes, I think everyone here has had that uncomfortable suspicion at some time or another. I look through other games of the suspect and if there seems to be a pattern I report it; I've had points refunded a few times.

If they toogle they will get caught.

Threetee just because someone opens poorly, or makes a blunder does not mean that they lack skill.

Here is an example of a casual game of mine vs a player about 800 rating points lower than myself.

I accidentally dropped my queen for a minor piece (my bishop was still on c4 in my head on move 19), totally lost position. Vs a player of my own strength, or close I would likely resign within the next few moves. However I decided to try to defend the position then the game got more interesting.

My point is, just because I make a stupid move does not mean that I can not make good moves after that. The same is true of other players.

Just assume nobody is cheating. Because any game I play I could be like "oh an engine picked that move maybe" If you go around with that mentality that every other player on here is using an engine then it takes the fun out of it. Some people do cheat, but they all get caught eventually.

I have found that playing more causal games instead of rated games weeds out a fair number of cheaters. When you take rating points off the table engine users dry up because the only reason many use an engine is to raise their rating.

I've suspected this plenty of times..

Wanted to make clear that yes, toggling happens. But it's not the correct justification for every loss. The vast vast majority of online chess players are honest people.

@coffeeand420 you make it sound like chess servers aren't aware of this type of cheating. Of course they are, and of course they do the best they possibly can to stop it.

@spreeathener You're right, wasn't thinking about that rule at the time, but it's definitely something for the mods to decide.

The "common" people underestimate the power of data mining. Computers evaluate millions of data pieces which stem from a couple of games. It's not only the quality of moves but it's rich in meta data.

So, don't be afraid that casual cheaters don't get caught. If they do it once, ok. But if they try it from time to time - bang!

Yes. I had the same feeling a number of games.

What I still don´t understand is "Why" a player wants to cheat. After all, he/she is not cheating the oppononent. He/she is cheating himself/herself.

Well, no logic and no answer for this behaviour. But a fact is that many times we receive credits due to lose to a cheater...

A pitty...

Regards