Board Game Arena

I believe another player is using a perfect solver (computer program) to play the game. Is that against the rules?

I have checked multiple past games and have confirmed every single move they make is the best possible move.

I certainly believe that players can be good and choose the best move most of the time but some of these I think are only things a solver could notice.

I am aware of at least ONE player using some Android AI to support his Hive play. As an Apple ecosystem kinda guy, I merely laughed at him and beat him (mostly). But yeah, this happens quite a bit. It's another negative side effect of any system like ELO - some people will do anything for internet gummy points.

For a game like Hive, as of now anyway (hello AlphaZero, where art thou?), it does not really help, au contraire it actually leads to less development in skill and gameplay.

It is time for that community to leave this poorly managed site, yet I fear it will be long before users realize how poorly their data and basic rights are managed on BGA.

Mach3Racer wrote: ↑17 September 2020, 20:14 it does not really help

While that may be true of some games other games are 100% completely solved. If that is the case it does lead to a huge advantage to use a solver.

Other games, while not completely solved, have an AI that while not playing perfectly plays better than 99.9999% of humans (like Deep Mind in Go).

lol, did you REALLY leave the whole first part of my second sentence out on purpose?

Like the part that says the qualifying parts "For a game like Hive" AND the part that mentions AlphaZero .... and all this ONLY to then say that there are indeed examples where using a solver DOES help. Yes, duh, that is why I specified it before is said "it doesnt help".

It got a lot more hilarious when you THEN start mentioning dropping AlphaGo like I DIDNT ALREADY mention that too.

What is this? Best reply ever. /s

smh

In what game do you suspect the use of solver?
You could file a report if you are convinced the player is cheating. Just provide concrete proofs in your report.

To answer OP's question, no, there is nothing in the TOS against consulting outside aid of any sort.

augustjologs wrote: ↑21 September 2020, 04:14 In what game do you suspect the use of solver?

Connect 4. Is one prime example.

whatshisbucket wrote: ↑21 September 2020, 05:30 there is nothing in the TOS against consulting outside aid of any sort.

From this page it says "The Player agrees not to resort to the use of automated systems such as scripts to play or send messages". Does it have to be fully automated to be a problem?

I would like to make sure the position of the site admins is 100% clear as I look at the report options there is no category for "using automated systems" and I view this as cheating.

What about colusion (or ELO boosting) is that illegal? It seems to be illegal from the report screen but in the TOS all I see related to it is regarding the same player with multiple accounts, what if they just have a "friendly" agreement with another person?

jdaming wrote: ↑24 September 2020, 05:59

whatshisbucket wrote: ↑21 September 2020, 05:30 there is nothing in the TOS against consulting outside aid of any sort.

From this page it says "The Player agrees not to resort to the use of automated systems such as scripts to play or send messages". Does it have to be fully automated to be a problem?

That seems to be exactly what the TOS say. So long as the human player is the one inputting the moves on BGA, there is no rule violation.

What about colusion (or ELO boosting) is that illegal? It seems to be illegal from the report screen but in the TOS all I see related to it is regarding the same player with multiple accounts, what if they just have a "friendly" agreement with another person?

This could certainly be worded better in the TOS, but I would think that it should prohibit anyone holding a controlling interest in multiple accounts, regardless of whether or not they are the one making moves for both.

Regardless, there seems to be little point in reporting such players anyway, as there is essentially no punishment (which is in direct contradiction with the moderation policy).

The guidelines /rules against such and other forms of cheating are poor to say it nicely, and the moderation policy is absent, with the only exception of 1 player creating several accounts to push himself. Therefore it’s highly pointless to have any ambitions for high ranks here, which is a pitty.