# Which game is hardest to cheat at (NOT fix) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 18, 2020, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603 "2020-01-18T03:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/1 "2020-01-18T03:46:00Z")
In light of the baseball sign stealing scandal (backing my previous thread that baseball might be the most unsportsmanlike game of all) which game is the hardest to cheat at? I nominate soccer. There’s no special equipment to tinker, there’s no signs to steal, about all you get away with is a cheap shot behind the referees back. I know refs make a lot of questionable arbitrary calls but that doesn’t necessarily constitute “cheating” on the teams part. MAYBE you can have the groundskeeper play games with the field I suppose but both teams basically run all over the same pitch. Hockey rarely if ever has cheating scandals as well. What other sports? I’m not talking fixes, PEDs, illegal recruitment etc, just in game or game prep cheating. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/2 "2020-01-18T03:52:18Z")
Is it possible to cheat playing Horseshoes? ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/3 "2020-01-18T03:54:19Z")
“Cheating” means breaking the rules. So, the hardest game to cheat in would be the one with the fewest, or no, rules. A running race is pretty hard to cheat in unless you trip the other runners. So that’s up there. Target shooting maybe? Hard to fake a hole in the target. How about fighting? Not Boxing, or MMA or anything with actual rules, but just straight up street fighting. I agree with horseshoes. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/4 "2020-01-18T03:57:30Z")
> [@ski](#): > > “Cheating” means breaking the rules. So, the hardest game to cheat in would be the one with the fewest, or no, rules. > > **A running race is pretty hard to cheat in unless you trip the other runners. So that’s up there**. > > Target shooting maybe? Hard to fake a hole in the target. > > I agree with horseshoes. Cutting the course/taking a shortcut. [Rosie Ruiz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Ruiz) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/5 "2020-01-18T03:57:58Z")
I _was_ going to go with a supposed sure thing-Curling…then I found this story: [“Olympic Curling World Stunned By Russian Doping Scandal”](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2018/02/19/olympic-curling-world-stunned-by-russian-doping-scandal/110593330/). WTF? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/6 "2020-01-18T04:05:13Z")
Broad jump. Everyone takes off from the same spot. The landing zone is raked by the officials between jumps, and your shoes are checked before you enter the box. The only thing you could do is doping, and of course that gets the same stringent testing as every other sport. Long jump you might take an extra step, triple jump you might alter the skip a little, but standing broad jump? That’s just you and your thighs, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/7 "2020-01-18T04:21:39Z")
I think that steroids make it possible to cheat at almost any physical game, if the use of them is prohibited by the rules; if there is a sport which doesn’t ban steroids, then that is the game with the least cheating. I assume pretty much anyone winning a gold medal at the Olympics is using steroids. I guess I’d nominate competitive fly casting, which is about finesse, not strength. I believe the title is still held by 14 year Maxine McCormick. [The Mozart of Fly Casting - The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/19/sports/maxine-mccormick.html) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/8 "2020-01-18T04:28:54Z")
Chess. There’s some cheating in the form of discreetly using chess computers to make one’s moves ; but cheating within the game itself ? Pretty difficult IMO. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/9 "2020-01-18T05:40:15Z")
Especially speed chess. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/10 "2020-01-18T06:13:50Z")
> [@ski](#): > > A running race is pretty hard to cheat in unless you trip the other runners. So that’s up there. > > Target shooting maybe? It took me a moment to realize you’d changed the subject. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/11 "2020-01-18T07:11:45Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > It took me a moment to realize you’d changed the subject. Snipers would give the other track team an unfair advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/12 "2020-01-18T07:23:10Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > I nominate soccer. There’s no special equipment to tinker, there’s no signs to steal, about all you get away with is a cheap shot behind the referees back. I know refs make a lot of questionable arbitrary calls but that doesn’t necessarily constitute “cheating” on the teams part. > > MAYBE you can have the groundskeeper play games with the field I suppose but both teams basically run all over the same pitch. Um, have you ever actually watched professional soccer? You can entertain yourself for hours watching youtube compilations of the “best” cheats. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LC-H2wXK4T4/maxresdefault.jpg "WORST FOOTBALL (Soccer) DIVERS and CHEATERS") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC-H2wXK4T4) ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/13 "2020-01-18T10:39:57Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Um, have you ever actually watched professional soccer? You can entertain yourself for hours watching youtube compilations of the “best” cheats. > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC-H2wXK4T4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC-H2wXK4T4) UM …UM… already you and some others have not read or comprehended the OP so let me be the bad guy and clarify: 1. PEDs/ Steroids which can affect the outcome of almost any, if not all, competitions don’t count 2. Soccer—- players diving or making dirty tackles do not count because of poor officiating. That is an officiating problem not a “cheating” problem. Looking for examples where players/teams/coaches take advantage regardless of game times officials incompetence! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/14 "2020-01-18T12:05:33Z")
Caber (kaber) Tossing would be hard to cheat at. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/15 "2020-01-18T12:17:43Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Caber (kaber) Tossing would be hard to cheat at. Maybe if they cork the saber? Pine tar? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/16 "2020-01-18T14:50:30Z")
Of course soccer has special equipment. Make your goal smaller than the opponent’s. Tamper with the ball in some way that changes how it performs, and then have your team practice with the tampered ball. And if “not getting caught” disqualifies cheating from this discussion, as a failure of the officials rather than the players, then you could apply that to _any_ form of cheating in any game. ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/17 "2020-01-18T14:59:02Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > It took me a moment to realize you’d changed the subject. ? Not sure what you mean. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Cutting the course/taking a shortcut. [Rosie Ruiz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Ruiz) Good point. What about a straight line race, like a sprint, or anything on a track then. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/18 "2020-01-18T15:05:31Z")
> [@ski](#): > > Target shooting maybe? Hard to fake a hole in the target. I would assume that there are rules though about the weapons you could use, the ammunition you could use, where you could position yourself, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/19 "2020-01-18T16:15:48Z")
We pretty much had this exact same thread less than six months ago: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=879002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=879002) ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603/20 "2020-01-18T17:28:28Z")
Diplomacy maybe. The moves are adjudicated and executed by an independent party and lying to your allies and competitors is the officially approved route to success. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-game-is-hardest-to-cheat-at-not-fix/846603.md?page=2)