Cheating on BBO

[antepa]

Occasionally , a number of usernames are banned from various tournaments as 'cheaters'. As a TD, I have received a number of complaints that some players use two computers and log in to the BBO with two usernames, making false "pairs", some may even chat using a chat system or by phone. Apart from obvious cases, where bids/play are incredibly perfect, how can this be prevented? Are you familiar with such cases ?

[Vampyr]

I think that prevention must be incredibly difficult, since evidence of cheating can be collected only after the fact.

 

You have to wonder about the motivation of the cheats; what is at stake? I imagine that prizes are very small, if there even are prizes. They must be pretty pathetic people.

[antepa]

I think that prevention must be incredibly difficult, since evidence of cheating can be collected only after the fact.

 

You have to wonder about the motivation of the cheats; what is at stake? I imagine that prizes are very small, if there even are prizes. They must be pretty pathetic people.

I totally agree with you :)

[barmar]

It's probably just an ego trip by very insecure people. Or immature people who just see a way to take advantage of a system and feel the need to exploit it.

 

There's nothing we can do to prevent it. We're not going to block partners from the same IP, because there are many honest players who need to do this (e.g. husband/wife playing from the same home, but not cheating), and it would be unfair to them.

 

Report suspected cheaters to abuse@bridgebase.com, and we'll investigate. That's the best we can do.

[nige1]

A simple automated system to provide "early-warning" for certain kinds of cheating is based on a "cheating database" of deals where inferior bidding or play gains. e,g,

• Bidding lucky games/slams on inadequate values, making on a lucky lie of the cards.
• Staying out of games/slams on substantial values, that are doomed by bad breaks.
• "Kibitzer-make" deals where you succeed only if you drop honours off-side.
• Defensive hands that require an unlikely lead to defeat the contract.

BBO cheat-detection software could search computer-generated deals for such anomalies (and might even introduce the occasional especially constructed deal). Then the software could filter-off and monitor these unusual deals, noting a player, whenever he seems to buck the odds successfully.

 

Over time, the software would highlight any player with a consistent history of relative success on such deals, Such a player might be worth human investigation. BBO officials could also check past and current records from the "cheating-database" for those suspected of cheating by other players.

[GrahamJson]

I'm afraid that I have come across one blatant cheater who clearly kibitzes himself playing.

 

Reasons why I believe he is cheating include;

 

Frequent "inspired" leads. Yesterday, for example, against a 1NT - 3NT auction, holding Kxxxx Q10xx xxx 10 he led the C10, finding partner with QJ9x. Interestingly such leads never work out badly.

 

Never missing a making slam. Twice I have seen him bid six, despite two aces missing, then partner turns up with an undisclosed void. On one occasion he actually used RKKB so knew two aces were missing, the other time he bid 4NT then quickly had an undo then bid 6 direct.

 

Never taking a losing finesse, unless it can't be avoided. The most blatant example of this is once leaping to 7S, a contract that needed a finesse (onside, of course) and bringing in a trump suit of AKJxx opposite 10xx. This he did (with no clues from bidding or play) by dropping the Qx offside.

 

I could go on with many examples. What makes it worse is that he is often calling other players "novices" when they make mistakes. Also, when set for a very poor score he boots others off his table, forcing a redeal. Or even worse, accusing oppo of cheating and then throwing them off.

 

Interestingly this particular person has played in two tournaments in which kibitzing is not allowed. He came 56th out of 56 in one and scored 44% in the other.

 

I have complained to BBO about him in the past, but clearly no action was taken. He frequently appears on "interesting tables" holding court and accepting praise from other players.

 

Incidentally, this guy is well known amongst at least some kibitzers as a 2PC man. I think some, like me, watch him out of amusement (sad, I know) curious to see how blatant he dares to be.

 

What can be done?

[beschuit]

check their ip-adress

[fourdad]

They likely cheat themselves in the game of LIFE as well!

They are to be pitied.

[mycroft]

What can be done? Send an email with suggestive hands and the kibitzer list to abuse@bridgebase.com. Amazingly they do things about this sort of thing. They also don't talk much about it, because BBO is a business and there are many many reasons not to (and one of the biggest is "we choose not to. If you don't like it go somewhere else or start your own site.")

[antepa]

It's probably just an ego trip by very insecure people. Or immature people who just see a way to take advantage of a system and feel the need to exploit it.

 

There's nothing we can do to prevent it. We're not going to block partners from the same IP, because there are many honest players who need to do this (e.g. husband/wife playing from the same home, but not cheating), and it would be unfair to them.

 

Report suspected cheaters to abuse@bridgebase.com, and we'll investigate. That's the best we can do.

thanks

[antepa]

A simple automated system to provide "early-warning" for certain kinds of cheating is based on a "cheating database" of deals where inferior bidding of play gains. e,g,

• Bidding lucky games/slams on inadequate values, making on a lucky lie of the cards.
• Staying out of games/slams on substantial values, that are doomed by bad breaks.
• "Kibitzer-make" deals where you succeed only if you drop honours off-side.
• Defensive hands that require an unlikely lead to defeat the contract.

BBO cheat-detection software could search computer-generated deals for such anomalies (and might even introduce the occasional especially constructed deal). Then the software could filter-off and monitor these unusual deals, noting a player, whenever he seems to buck the odds successfully.

 

Over time, the software would highlight any player with a consistent history of relative success on such deals, Such a player might be worth human investigation. BBO officials could also check past and current records from the "cheating-database" for those suspected of cheating by other players.

That could work :)

[steve2005]

Cheating in the main room why? I'm not questioning that it happens I just don't see the point.

[barmar]

Plain and simple: Because they can.

[movingon]

More concerning is cheating in ACBL tournaments.

I have on file about 15 hands bid and played by one person with two partners that I believe clearly indicate cheating. {removed}

 

I have only been checking hands for a couple of weeks now, have sent them in and am hoping that I will soon see that this person and his partner are no longer here.

 

We shall see.

Edited August 16, 2015 by diana_eva

[Bbradley62]

This person has {many} ACBL points on BBO...

This seems odd... how can you possibly know this?

[hotShot]

Occasionally , a number of usernames are banned from various tournaments as 'cheaters'. As a TD, I have received a number of complaints that some players use two computers and log in to the BBO with two usernames, making false "pairs", some may even chat using a chat system or by phone. Apart from obvious cases, where bids/play are incredibly perfect, how can this be prevented? Are you familiar with such cases ?

 

How do you know for sure the person is using 2 Computers?

[hotShot]

check their ip-adress

 

Even it you knew the IP-Adresses, this would be no evidence as many providers use proxies and people who don't even know each other could get the same IP.

[Zelandakh]

Even it you knew the IP-Adresses, this would be no evidence as many providers use proxies and people who don't even know each other could get the same IP.

Not to mention users playing legitimately from the same physical location.

[barmar]

This seems odd... how can you possibly know this?

Go to http://www.bridgebase.com/points and enter their username.

[Vampyr]

More concerning is cheating in ACBL tournaments.

I have on file about 15 hands bid and played by one person with two partners that I believe clearly indicate cheating. {removed}

 

I have only been checking hands for a couple of weeks now, have sent them in and am hoping that I will soon see that this person and his partner are no longer here.

 

We shall see.

 

Are ACBL points won on BBO counted as regular ACBL points?

Edited August 16, 2015 by diana_eva

[barmar]

Are ACBL points won on BBO counted as regular ACBL points?

For most purposes, yes.

 

They have no color, so they don't count towards the requirement of certain amounts of each pigment for various "Master" designations. And ACBL now has separate masterpoint leader lists for online and f2f points.

 

There's also a restriction that you can play in at most 2 ACBL events/hour -- this mostly just affects Leo.

[Jacki]

Are ACBL points won on BBO counted as regular ACBL points?

 

Yes, in a way. Points won in ACBL games on BBO are equal to one point won anywhere in any game. However, they are 'non-pigmented' points. In order to advance in rank the ACBL requires a certain number of pigmented points;

 

Black

Silver

Red

Gold/Platinum

 

Different levels in rank require different numbers of certain colors to reach the next rank. If a player has all the colored points required to reach a level, but needs more total points for that level, then a point won in an ACBL game on BBO is the same as a point won in an ACBL game played anywhere.

[keylime]

Jacki, do they still have the limit in place where for each rank, no more than 1/3rd of the total master points earned online as non-pigmented count?

[steve2005]

I didn't see people already answered re online points

[barmar]

Jacki, do they still have the limit in place where for each rank, no more than 1/3rd of the total master points earned online as non-pigmented count?

What I think you're talking about is that only 1/3 count towards the requirement for a masterpoint milestone. But they got rid of that (I think when they implemented the 2 tourneys/hour limit). Also, the masterpoint awards for online tourneys are lower than similar-sized club games (and lower still because our games are only 12 boards).