5A4. New Business

[Vladimir Drkulec]

I have already noticed quite a bit of crossover from online to real world chess. For the first time I had three adult students all who are coming from the online world and want to get into over the board chess. They decided to get coaching. Two of them want in person lessons so they are not taking lessons at the moment but often there is a desire to play "real" chess. Yes we will continue online chess as part of the CFC portfolio of events. We do have to do something and we are doing something about the online cheating which seems rampant compared to OTB.

[Fred McKim]

Don Parakin has also indicated that we should now be able to have more than two rating systems, so eventually ONL could be a third rating.

[Vladimir Drkulec]

Don Parakin has also indicated that we should now be able to have more than two rating systems, so eventually ONL could be a third rating.

I never understood why we were limited to two in the first place.

[Fred McKim]

I never understood why we were limited to two in the first place.

The major limitation was the website infrastucture was created for only two rating systems.

[Don Parakin]

Don Parakin has also indicated that we should now be able to have more than two rating systems, so eventually ONL could be a third rating.

"now", yikes! We cannot have more than two with the current ratings app. The current app is based on a 20+ year old MS-Access database with an old file-format that Microsoft replaced in 2007. I wouldn't touch that old code with a 10-foot keyboard. Replacing the ratings system is something in the future, not "now". A pre-req before a rewrite can start is to stabilize the requirements: I'm reading a lot of posts lately talking about changes to the algorithm.

[Fred McKim]

"now", yikes! We cannot have more than two with the current ratings app. The current app is based on a 20+ year old MS-Access database with an old file-format that Microsoft replaced in 2007. I wouldn't touch that old code with a 10-foot keyboard. Replacing the ratings system is something in the future, not "now". A pre-req before a rewrite can start is to stabilize the requirements: I'm reading a lot of posts lately talking about changes to the algorithm.

Now was a poor choice of words, sorry about that Don, I should say someday .... I indicated in my previous post the real limitation.

[Jose Fernandez Triana]

Simple proposal for online chess (from here on abbreviated as ONL) under CFC:

1- Create a working group to study the subject of ONL under CFC and prepare a report for the CFC Executive. Eventually, if worth it, there might be a need to create a more permanent CFC commission for online chess.
2- Such working group, in consultation with TDs (already organizing ONL CFC games) and other interested parties, should propose both short-term and long-term plans for ONL CFC. Short-term plans would cover ONL during the pandemic, long-term should cover ONL after the pandemic.
3- Obviously short-term plans should be proposed asap, otherwise they would not be useful at all. Here I outline a VERY simple, short-term idea as an example of what could be done:
a) ONL under CFC should be especially marketed to the audience that plays chess online in any of the many platforms available (e.g., Chess.com, Lichess, Chess24, FICS, ICC, etc.). This has the potential to attract a much larger membership than current CFC.
b) How to sell the above? Well, for the prize of an annual CFC membership, players could participate in CFC-rated tournaments and get official (albeit online, not regular) ratings. This cannot be offered by the other chess platforms. This is the main selling point.
c) Participation in ONL CFC tournaments would be much cheaper than regular OTB (cheaper as per entry fees, and zero travel and accommodation costs); and it would also be more flexible as per time to be committed (i.e., less time spent on a tournament, as there is no travel involved, and also usually it would be shorter time controls, see below). The CFC could even decide that new CFC members are gifted 5 or 10 free online CFC-rated games, as another selling point and initial marketing (to attract the crowd currently playing ONL in other platforms).
d) ONL under CFC should not focus on material prizes but rather the love for chess and playing in a community such as CFC. Money prizes would be low or none at all (or alternatives such as a prize of “a free CFC membership for one year”). Low prices reduce the temptation to cheat. [Occasional, higher-profile tournaments, where more elite players would participate, would be the exemption].
e) ONL under CFC would have shorter time controls than regular OTB, as online chess is more difficult to play under “traditional” long-time controls. The majority of the non-elite chess players online favour shorter rather than longer time controls. It also adds more competitive spirit (although certainly less accuracy and margin for mistakes). And it allows for more playing possibilities. [Again, as in the previous point, occasional higher-profile tournaments could have longer time controls, as exemptions].
f) ONL under CFC would provide different tournaments throughout the year, perhaps starting with 2 tournaments/month (but ideally at least one tournament/week). Tournaments could include different formats and variations in time control (but mostly shorter time controls).
g) Have some initial guidelines to deal with cheating (and make this topic an important part of the working group to study and deal with).
h) Draw from the ONL experience already accumulated by several TDs from across the country. No need to reinvent the wheel. Only need is to get a minimum of a consensus and some initial marketing (beyond the local tournament, and instead aim for national scope and promotion of the tournaments: ONL can be played from ANY part of Canada and beyond!).
i) Draw also from the experience that FIDE and other national/regional organizations have accumulated (e.g., check the free FIDE seminar about online chess; see how tournaments already played have worked; ask TDs with experience monitoring web cams, etc.).
j) Do NOT wait until the pandemic is over to address ONL chess under CFC. If we cannot organize things now (even if only to a minimum) for CFC ONL while that is the only alternative, once OTB resumes ONL would become and afterthought and would not work on a longer term. That is why we need the short-plans implemented asap, and then working towards a longer vision for ONL under the CFC banner.

More can be said and organized, the above are just some basic ideas...

[Vladimir Drkulec]

Simple proposal for online chess (from here on abbreviated as ONL) under CFC:

Excellent suggestions. Online events should not stop once over the board chess is restarted.

My understanding is that a lot of the FIDE official events include Zoom monitoring of players which can be intrusive but necessary especially when there are prizes involved and may be a bit labour intensive relative to a typical weekend swiss. Aris is working the Online Olympiad.

[Paul Leblanc]

Vlad mentioned camera monitoring.
Is anyone currently doing that for ONL in Canada?

[Vadim Tsypin]

" I feel that we need a broad consensus on the measures applied. Below are the main questions we would like to have your opinion on:

1. Our methods of detection, although very advanced and ever-improving, can't provide a 100% confirmation. In many cases, the probability estimated is higher than the one for DNA tests. Do you believe a statistical algorithm (or a combination of those) giving close to 100% probability of cheating could stand as sufficient grounds for banning a player? If yes - what odds would you find sufficient?

2. Shall FIDE apply sanctions for alleged online violations to over-the-board-play (and vice versa)?

3. Shall we apply sanctions for alleged violations at platforms’ own events, and other unofficial online events, to official FIDE online events (and vice versa)?

4. Shall we publish the names of alleged violators after the very first conviction?

5. Shall the violators be punished retroactively, with their prize money, rating and titles been revoked for some period preceding the verdict? And, if yes, how far back should these actions go?

6. What would you consider a reasonable banning period for first-time violators, and for repeat offenders? How strict should be the measures in youth competitions?

There are many questions and some of them are related to the moral and legal aspects of the subject. Having a fair and transparent system will require a trusted framework. The worst thing to do would be to ban an innocent player. "
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August 19 FIDE President address on anti-cheating policies.