Community Guidelines
Last updated: 2026-09-02
Shahmat.org is used by people at every level, of every background — from a first-time player learning how the knight moves to titled players preparing for a tournament. These guidelines keep that shared space workable for everyone.
Be respectful
- No harassment, hate speech, slurs, or threats — in game chat, voice chat, usernames, avatars, or profile bios.
- Disagreements happen; keep them civil. Resigning or leaving a game beats sending abuse over a loss.
- Respect coaches and students in coaching messages the same way you would in person.
Play in good faith
- Don't intentionally disconnect, stall, or abandon games to frustrate an opponent — see also our Fair Play & Anti-Cheat Policy for rating-manipulation specifics.
- Don't use chat or voice chat to coordinate cheating, or to distract or bait an opponent mid-game.
Keep it appropriate
- No spam, advertising, or unsolicited promotion in chat, usernames, or profiles.
- No explicit, violent, or otherwise inappropriate usernames, avatars, or profile content.
- Don't impersonate other players, coaches, or the Shahmat.org team.
If someone crosses the line
You can block a player directly from their profile so you no longer match, message, or see each other in chat. For anything more serious, report it — see Contact. Include the username and, where relevant, the game or message in question.
Consequences
Depending on severity, we may remove content, restrict chat/voice access, or suspend an account. Repeated or severe violations can lead to a permanent ban.