S O C R A T E S: I am aware that there are a few who have, in the past, admitted to using Chess programs but I cannot remember who they are nor do I have an inclination to go back through fellowships to work it out.

The result of the discussion was, however, that there was no prohibition on people using programs but it would be correct ettiquette (sp?) for this to be stated upfront, as say does "SMIRF Engine" when he uses it for playing Gothic Chess.

The great difficulty is proving someone is using a program. There are some who believe that they can work it out depending upon the moves which are made ... a level of chess intuition which is far beyond me.

As for further discussion, this is not a taboo topic but please do make unfounded accusations (they will be hidden or deleted). Personally, I wonder what the real difference is between using say a book of openings which is a compilation of moves in a database which is textual (considered by most to be okay) and using a computer program with the same information but with a much faster search engine ... a computer instead of one's brain ... which is considered not okay. Fruit for the sideboard so to speak (in strine).