Does Chess.com Let Me Win?

I play against the Chess.com computer at least once a day.  I do not ever change the level of play.

Chess.com always, always beats me - except about once every 30-35 games, when I win.  I think the computer actually throws the game.  Is this possible?

In Las Vegas, the slot machines are programmed to pay out a winner periodically.  When I do beat the Chess.com computer, I feel as if its program required it to throw the game.  

Is there any merit to this?

Probably not. Have you recorded the moves from the game you won? It may be a case of you having played some decent moves and beaten the computer. If you can, try posting the last game you won against the computer for analysis! I'm curious about this and would like to see one of the winning games in an effort to answer the question.

I wonder which of your zero recorded games you think the computer let you win?

All of them, clearly.

theoreticalboy, Grobe, I'm guessing he means games against the Java computer, not the lives ones.

He's not playing the computer in Live Chess but rather the one found under the PLAY tab (used to be called Little Chess Partner).

Ahh, I forgot that even existed.  Oh well, joke null and void; I'll start the funeral parade soon.

Read.

Where's the fun in that?

Shoot first, ask questions never.

1. c4 e5 2. g3 f5 3. Bg2 c6 4. d4 e4 5. Nc3 Qe7 6. Bf4 a6 7. c5 b5 8. Bd6 Qe6 9. Bf4 h6 10. Nh3 g5 11. Be5 Nf6 12. 0-0 Bg7 13. Re1 0-0 14. Bd6 Re8 15. a4 b4 16. d5 Qf7 17. Na2 Qxd5 18. Nxb4 Qc4 19. Qd2 a5 20. Nc2 Ng4 21. b3 Qxb3 22. Reb1 Qc3 23. Qxc3 Bxc3 24. Ra3 Bb4 25. Rab3 Ba6 26. Nxb4 axb4 27. Rxb4 Bxe2 28. R1b2 Bf3 29. Bxf3 exf3 30. Rxb8 Raxb8 31. Rxb8 Kf7 32. Rb7 Re2 33. Bb8 Ke7 34. Kf1 Nxh2+ 35. Kg1 Ng4 36. Bc7 Re1# 0-1

I play mostly using the iPad application, which offers the choice of "Play Computer."  I see that at the Chess.com website, the choice is listed under the heading "Play" and then "Against the Computer."  I have posted the record of the most recent game that I won.  Perhaps you'll see why I think the computer threw the game may way.  (By the way, I'm new to this community.  I appreciate those of you who chose to be patient as I learn my way around.)

You know, I used to play the computer in live, and every now and then it would play some bizarre moves, and whilst I didn't think it was letting me win, I did assume I had been playing it too much...

My advice would be to play against humans.  Does your iPad support the board in correspondence?  Computers are a terrible opponent; they're either too erratic, or too good.

Thank you.  It's less embarrassing to lose to a computer.  That said, I am in the middle of two correspondence games and plan to grow using both approaches.  Playing, truthfully, has been humbling for me.  I'm not accustomed to losing so frequently.  But I do see improvement in my game.  And I enjoy chess.

Hey Dov, thanks for posting the moves. I'm going to look at the game. One thing about simpler chess programs is that a single move can throw them off. Don't beat yourself up over losing to the computer. They tend to be tactically aggressive and, depending on the settings, can analyze a position quite well.

I believe I have learned a great deal by playing v. the Chess.com computer.  My skills have improved and I'm now participating in my first Chess.com tournament.  HOWEVER, tonight I again played v. Chess.com's computer -- and there is no mistaking that it let me win.  Here is a record of the moves.  Why does the computer make such dumb moves?  [Please note I have not changed any settings and I am not playing at some low, beginner's level.]  Thanks for your thoughts.

1. Nf3 f6 2. Nc3 c6 3. d4 e6 4. e4 Bb4 5. Bc4 Bxc3+ 6. Ke2 Ba5 7. Bf4 Bc7 8. Bd2 Nh6 9. Bb4 b6 10. e5 Ba6 11. Nd2 f5 12. f3 Qg5 13. Bd6 Bxd6 14. Re1 Bb4 15. Qc1 Bxd2 16. Rd1 Bxc1 17. Bxa6 Nxa6 18. Raxc1 Qxc1 19. Rxc1 Nb4 20. a3 Nd5 21. c3 f4 22. c4 Ne3 23. g3 Nhf5 24. gxf4 Ke7 25. Rc3 h5 26. b3 h4 27. Rxe3 Nxe3 28. Kd3 Ng2 29. Ke4 h3 30. c5 b5 31. a4 b4 32. a5 Rh4 33. Kd3 Rah8 34. f5 exf5 35. a6 Rf4 36. Kc4 Rhh4 37. Kxb4 Rxd4+ 38. Kc3 Ne1 39. f4 Rd3+ 40. Kb2 Rxf4 41. Ka3 Nc2+ 42. Kb2 Rf2 43. e6 f4 44. Kc1 f3 45. Kb2 Re2 46. Ka2 f2 47. Kb2 f1Q 48. exd7 Kxd7 49. Ka2 Qa1# 0-1

As long as you see that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. No matter how good you get, there will be people better than you so you will continue losing your fair share of games. Success in chess is not winning or losing a particular game, it is long term improvement.

Computers are odd to play against. The thing is, humans have the capability of programming engines to be ~3000 strength (Houdini, etc). To play a computer set to even 2000 strength means that it has been, in some way, intentionally weakened by the programmer to be more beatable. This means that it won't always play the best moves, and this sometimes causes weird gliches where it makes an inexplicable blunder.

Thank you for helping to explain this.  

Now that the main argument has been settled, I have to take issue with the bit in red.

I worked in a casino for 12 years, on slot machines. Slot machines are NOT programmed. They are designed to take your money. It is as random as rolling a die. They are no more programmed to hit winning combinations than a die is programmed to land on 6 roughly 1 in 6 tries over a long period. Just as you can have a die land on 6 5 times in a row, one slot machine can pay 5 jackpots in a day. Or maybe not for 3 months. No programming, no rocket science, just pure dumb luck, with the odds favouring the casino.

I haven't played chess since high school (20 years ago), and got chess.com's iPod Touch app.  Now I'm getting back into learning the game (feel like a complete newbie) and am using the "Play Computer" mode to learn.

I have gotten to the point at which I can play and beat strength levels 1 and 2 pretty easily and often (due to what I call 'dumb moves' by the computer).  However, level 3 has so far been unbeatable (I've only done it once in a few dozen attempts).  The scary part is, there are 10 levels of strength!

I realize the software is inflexible and not the best when it comes to opponents, but holy cow!

After reading this thread, things make more sense to me, and I am going to play some humans when I get more free time (computers don't care if they wait 45 minutes (or two days later) for my next move).