Using software to work out moves and "beat" someone

So - do you think this happens?  Someone using software to go from this site and "plug in" their game(s) in order to gain the upper hand? 

cubfan2:  EXACTLY !! I can't remember the name of the software, but it is "the big one" in the chess world.  Josh Waitzkin(sp?) helped develop it.  I heard you can use it in the way you described.

It is called chessmaster grandmaster edition or chessmaster 11

Josh helped with it. It has a attacking tutorial and stuff on it

and it is possible.  

Computer cheating is easiest to do in a correspondence style of chess as they have here on this website. Live chess is more difficult, because you have to hook up the program to the website (no time to make the move on a separate board).

But - it's easier for the computer detection team to operate in a live setting, because they can use not just the moves, but also the times per move to aid in their detection. This all being said, I'm sure that chess.com has some sophisticated computer detection algorithms, and I'm sure that they have appropriate sanctions for people who violate the terms of service.

I also do not use a computer because it does not help me in my personal goals. I am also happy to report that I have not yet faced a computer as an opponent. If I suspect as such, I will report my opponent (during the game). 

There are different kinds of software. Programs like Fritz or Chessmaster (whatever version) contain a chess engine- ie a part of the program that "computes" the next move. Any program that you can play against has a chess engine. However, there are other functions these and other programs perform that are not against the rules here. You may, for example, use a database, usually to look up games previously played with your current game's opening to help you decide where to proceed. You can also use a sideboard, which may be just a physical sideboard you set up with your game's current position to play out the lines you are considering. It's usually easier to do this with a graphic chessboard on your computer. If you are going to do this be certain you know how your software operates and that there is not a chess engine running to suggest moves to you while you're doing this. If you want to play using an engine there are sites where this is perfectly acceptable, just don't do it here.

It is possible, and I am certain that people use software to augment their play, or simply let the software play for them.  Contrary to what many have posted preceding this post, I believe programs such as Rybka are more popular among cheaters.  

If you strongly suspect a player is cheating, (remember that an opponent merely winning against you is not grounds for an accusation), then either report them to an administrator, or analyze their moves using your favorite Chess Engine. If the moves correspond with what the computer suggests more than 95% of the time, your opponent is either cheating or the next Fischer.

On the other hand...the way Lenny Bongcloud plays, you'd think he's getting some help from chessmaster-set on Newcomer!

By the way, mxdplay4, a computer with Chessmaster will give you an answer on that...if the person bothers to look in the "Practice Openings" section of Chessmaster.  I know because I use Chessmaster 5000 (the "old" edition).  No, I don't use it on this Website, because it's cheating and wouldn't be fun anyway, because you're not the one doing the playing.

 One thing I'd like to see happen sometime is letting someone with Chessmaster enter a very-high-rated tournament such as the Titled Players Tournament going on right now (if the players agreed to it) and seeing how the computer would do in the tournament (although we'd probably need something like an all-supergrandmaster tournament to give the computer a serious run for its money).

I think its true this is correspondence chess and I am sure that cheating is tempting...

There are all kinds of ways someone could use a computer to cheat. Somebody who used something like Fritz or Rybka to give them all their moves would play better than the best human player. If some Joseph P. Schmoe from Hole-In-The-Ground Iowa started playing like the ghost of Morphy somebody would take notice and they'd be found out soon enough. If, on the other hand, you have an oponent on the ropes and they suddenly play a few brilliant moves and end up with the advantage, well, who knows what happened there. More to the point, who's going to prove it. I think it's inevitable that people will cheat when chess in played on the internet. If we want assurances there's always live OTB chess. In this day when even our social lives take place largely in cyberspace that's maybe not such a bad thing.

 Totally agree with you! There are people here in forums who discuss games and openings and you know they are worth their rating for how they discuss. The silenced 2000+ is not worth his salt?!