The short version
- Fair play covers every live game: rated, casual and tournament games.
- A signal never punishes anyone. A person always decides: a fair play reviewer.
- One unusual game never opens a case, and one report never opens a case. Only a pattern across several games does.
- No player ever carries a public label. Many players are children.
- The first step is always a friendly reminder, except in the clearest cases.
1. What is not allowed
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Help from a chess engine during a game | Checking a move in an analysis app, on any device, while the game is being played |
| Help from another person during a game | A parent, friend or coach suggesting moves while the game is being played |
| Playing on another person’s account, or letting someone play on yours | An older brother playing rated games on a younger brother’s account |
| Losing on purpose | Losing games to lower your own rating, or to give a friend rating points |
| Using several accounts to raise a rating | Playing against your own second account and letting it lose |
| Leaving games, or letting the clock run out, on purpose to annoy an opponent | Leaving a lost position and not coming back, so the opponent has to wait for the clock |
2. What is allowed
- Reviewing a game with the engine after the game has ended.
- Studying openings, lessons and studies before a game.
3. What we record during a game
Four plain facts about how a game was played:
- How long each move took.
- Whether the game window was left during a move.
- How the move was entered — a click, a tap or a drag.
- Which device was used.
Only fair play reviewers see this.
4. What happens when games look unusual
One unusual game, or one report, is never enough on its own. A case only opens when a pattern shows up across several of your recent games.
A fair play reviewer, a person at ChessBinder, looks at the games and the reports and decides. No decision is ever made by a machine alone.
Most first-time cases end with a private, friendly reminder. Nothing changes on your account.
In a clearer or repeated case, rated games and all tournaments can be paused for a while. Casual games, puzzles, studies and lessons stay open the whole time.
Live play is only ever closed after a second confirmed case.
Nothing about a case is ever shown on a player’s profile, at any step.
5. If you think a decision is wrong
You can reply once, within 14 days of a decision. A different reviewer reads your reply and can keep, soften or cancel the decision. If it is cancelled, any pause ends at once.
6. Report a player
You can report the player you played against from the end of your game. Pick the reason that fits best:
- Used help during the game
- Left or stalled on purpose
- Something else
You can add a note. After you send it, you will read: “Thank you. A fair play reviewer will look at it.” Reports are private. The host never sees who reported.