bill.jacobs@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(Bill Jacobs) wrote in message
news:<Xns9467A92FAbilljacobsflashmailc@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>...
> Thanks Fred.
>
> Whilst the two processes look similar, it is interesting that the
volumes
> are so different: 150 over 3 years banned from OKB, and <10 from BBO.
>
> I can think of 3 possible reasons:
>
> 1. OKB has a much large number of players.
>
> 2. BBO is more conservative than OKB in "convicting" people of cheating
>
> 3. The presence of Lehman ratings in OKB provides a motivation for
cheating
>
> Item 3 is the one that interests me. I am coming to the conclusion that
on-
> line bridge is only playable in an environment where it is played purely
for
> fun - that is, there is absolutely no reward or prize of any kind
involved.
>
> Cheers ... Bill
I think that conclusion #3 is completely wrong (I also suspect #1 is,
especially if BBO has 100,000 members). I have no idea whether one can
expect a cleaner game on BBO or OKB at present, but I absolutely
believe that OKB is currently cleaner than it ever has been. Just
about every player I have personally suspected to be a cheater no
longer plays there. As John Mayne says, Lehmans are only of peripheral
significance; die-hard cheaters just cheat. When I first came to OKB,
it was common knowledge that a lot of the cheating took place in the
(non-Lehman) on-line tournaments, despite these being
director-moderated and watched by a large number of spectators. It was
blatant. The difference now is that something is done about them. The
"all time" tournament ranking lists contain a few blank places once
occupied by these players, and tournaments are more popular than ever.
If you want to cheat on OKB now, you have to do it very "expertly" to
avoid detection. If, on the other hand, you just want to bump up your
Lehman rating, then there are all manner of strategies to do so
without being a particularly good player. Most of them involve
behaviours that some, at least, regard as unsociable, but that are
within the conditions of contest. The up side of Lehman rating is that
it does at least at as a regulator, in that it gives some guideline as
to how good a game will be, based on historical evidence.
My instinct says that, at present, OKB remains a well moderated online
game, and the site where one is most likely to find good, playable
bridge without having to join a private group or prearrange a set
game. The cheating initiative has done much to enhance this, and the
management of the site have to be applauded on the diligence with
which they go about their job.
Peter.
New York, NY.
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