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Why would someone cheat at online chess?

I'm back into chess after some years away from the game and have been greatly enjoying the venue Lichess provides.

I just had my first experience of being informed that I lost to a cheater and was being refunded rating points. I am very glad that Lichess has the ability to catch people who would do this, and it prompted me to wonder WHY someone would cheat at online chess.

It seems so ridiculous to me, yet strangely fascinating. Do they want to be proud of something that isn't there? Any insight into this?
Back in my cheating days, it was a combination of two feelings. 1: "I'm finally good at Chess! Kinda." and 2: "Mwahaha..."

Turns out, I actually just like watching games more than playing them, and learning to program, I liked the idea of my ability to cheat being rated, and I never got caught. Now, I like watching engine tournaments and other people playing more than actually playing.

So really, it was half being proud of something that wasn't there, and half having fun watching others crumble beneath me, a feat I could never achieve on my own.
Because some people think it's funny/need to appear better than they are.
cause these cheating morons have a little $%^# and need to compensate with a big rating
#2 I, too, used to cheat, though I'm not too proud of it. It wasn't because I was a weak player, as the stereotypes would follow, in fact, I was nearly expert strength. It was pretty selfish, I'd cheat just so I'd know what I was doing in the opening, and I could basically "learn" how to play like an engine does (pro tip: can't be learned, the play of engines vary widely, and the one consistent element is that it's not human.) It honestly just became habit at the later stages, I'd been doing it for too long, and for some reason I couldn't stop myself anymore, as well as the thought that I was in too deep and any decrease in rating would prove I cheated. Nowadays, I don't do it anymore. I just don't touch my phone (stockfish) while I play, and since this is a new account, and I'm a 2100 strength player, I don't need it. It sucks, really, because I never needed it, even then. I just couldn't break the cycle then, as weird as it may sound to an outsider.
Nice to see some former cheaters come forward. I appreciate your candor.

Silent Lucidity, a couple more questions. I see your account is flagged as someone who uses chess computer assistance. You say this is a new account, why is it flagged like that if the account is new and you no longer cheat? If you are able to just create a new account and you don't cheat anymore, why wouldn't you just start fresh and not bear the scarlet letter of a cheater?
If someone talks about his poor life as a cheater I stop reading instantly. Spare me the details if you don't mind!
@Tangelo777 Not only that, but a cheater who replies to a post about why people cheat with his story of reform from cheating and thinks nobody is going to look at his profile...which is flagged for cheating. That is chilling. Mind-numbing.

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