Nasty Side Effect of Cheating

I have felt a nasty side effect of cheating. Now and then I have a good game against a much higher rated player or find a good move in bad position with a similarly rated player or just have great days of play and then find myself accused of cheating. A player accused me of cheating recently after a game when I was definitely under pressure and then the tide suddenly turned. I looked at the analysis and saw what I knew, that he had blundered. I went to write him but saw that he had blocked me. Sadly I get this kind of accusation every couple of weeks. Recently I messed around in the opening for a few games in a series with a guy and I was losing badly so I sat up and switched to my normal stuff and started winning. He commented that my opening had suddenly gotten stronger and then he either accused me and I think he may also have blocked me. What gets me about all this is that I started playing before computers and have never had an engine loaded on my computer. For me this is just a fun way to unwind.

It's sad that one of the nasty results of cheating is that it impacts perceptions in completely honest games. Some people feel cheated when they have not been. Some people find themselves accused when all they did was play well or get lucky.

So my advice to untitled players like myself for what it's worth: Remember it's just internet chess. Let's be honest because what's the value of wins that aren't real? Let's not be too quick to accuse others. Losing stinks but good play even unexpected good play from an honest opponent should be appreciated first. How else can we get better except from good play from opponents? Enjoy blitz games for what they are, recreation. This is all anonymous and no money is won or lost here. Let's learn from losses and keep it moving. Peace!

you are dealing with narcisists nothing you can do unfortunately.

narcissists*

Unfortunately even number 1 players have thrown the cheat-pointing fingers at other top-tier GMs throughout the years. If they are too lazy to do the analysis and see that it was their own mistake that led to their downfall rather than a machine crunching best moves to slowly swing things against them, then I recommend you leave a note on their profile about their childishness.

how can we spot a cheater? does anyone have a technique that works?

The lichess cheat detection.

Other than that, generally what I find suspicious is a matter of someone going from making lots of minor errors or even blunders to suddenly perfect play after a long pause. I generally analyze most games I play, but if I'm suspect I make absolute sure to run the analysis on the site. If after the analysis I'm even more supsicious, I report them for investigation.

However, just running the analysis after any suspect game is enough because that insures the lichess cheat detection system evaluates their play from that game (in combination with other games that have been analyzed). So calling someone a cheater or the like is just silly. If you've become suspicious, just run the analysis.

Some people will just call you a cheater to deflect suspicion away from themselves.
I recently played against a sore loser (or rather a "sore winner" as I blundered later on and lost the game...) who accused me of cheating. A few days later, he was marked as an engine abuser. :p

yes I believe so, ALL cheaters at some point will accuse others of cheating, it's just their mind set. But some accusers are just suspicious ,I agree that you remain cool either if someone accuses you or when you have doubts of your opponent behaviour ,in the first case you can simply ignore him without even sending pm and explaining (or even you can report him of insulting !) becasue in the second case, one can run the analysis and see and maybe then report for SUSPECTING cheating, and it's up the moderator to decide not you. It's just how things should be worked. Again remaining cool is the key !

I literally cannot tell you the number of times #7 has happened to me. You have to learn to take it in stride, really. Those folks do just as Dr_King_Schultz pointed out.

Of course, some folks are just plain paranoid of their opponent having an unexpectedly good game, and there are some who are absolutely convinced that everyone they lose to is using an engine or otherwise cheating.

If you know you've played honestly, just take it as a compliment and keep playing. You played some stellar chess and a great game, don't let anyone bring you down for it!

"That's what chess is all about. One day you give your opponent a lesson, the next day he gives you one." - Robert James Fischer

Constructive responses guys. Thanks!