New accounts

We are all well aware of smurf accounts across all platforms. Is there anything more that can be done to discourage the people starting new accounts and crushing opponents well below their level? It's the most toxic thing about online play, worse than engine using cheaters.

assuming the sites can be configured to implement suggestions, one thing they could do, not allow any new account to play in any tournament until been open at least 30 days. can always excempt titled players for specific titled events. could also do something along similar lines, for homepage games, say in the first 30 days of a new account, only get paired with an account that is up to 60 or 90 days old, then once had an account at least 30 days, or some sort of probation period like that, you can then be paired with anyone.

@paulw7-uk said in #2:

not allow any new account to play in any tournament until been open at least 30 days
So that those who want to misbehave create accounts in advance and only use them once they are old enough? When you want to propose a solution to a problem like this, imagine yourself "on the other side" and ask what would you do to work around it. If you see a trivial way within a minute, there is a good chance most of the bad guys could see it as well.

for homepage games, say in the first 30 days of a new account, only get paired with an account that is up to 60 or 90 days old, then once had an account at least 30 days, or some sort of probation period like that
That would make it much harder to reach "stable" rating, leaving new users longer with provisional.

@paulw7-uk said in #2:

assuming the sites can be configured to implement suggestions, one thing they could do, not allow any new account to play in any tournament until been open at least 30 days. can always excempt titled players for specific titled events. could also do something along similar lines, for homepage games, say in the first 30 days of a new account, only get paired with an account that is up to 60 or 90 days old, then once had an account at least 30 days, or some sort of probation period like that, you can then be paired with anyone.

Well some online tournaments do set constraints like there should be a minimum amount of games participants should play before playing in the tournament's game format like blitz or rapid, etc.

There is the provisional rating thing, if you care about the rating, which protects you against losing too many points against someone who just joined.

If you just hate to lose in front of better players, I think you're in the wrong game.

@aarongull the algorithms are certainly in place and are working well. Create such topics only when you know a better approach.

Its nothing against better players and I have no issue losing when I am against a much higher rated player. The issue is when you have an obvious not new player trashing the real new players. Someone 1000 points below me should not know any theory or premove exchange sacrifices.

Maybe all the new accounts play all provisional games against bots? Set a provisional "expected" rating based on performance and monitor the peaks and valleys for a set number of games. If the player is heavily tilted in one direction mods could see a red flag and act if necessary.

@aarongull said in #7:

The issue is when you have an obvious not new player trashing the real new players.
A new user is not necessarily a new player.

Then start them off at a higher rating when they go live. No reason for a 2000+ rating to start at sub 1000.