I play on my own, of course. And I don't always lose. Sometimes I manage to do things that even Vitalik is surprised by. And playing with Vitalik via Skype is also very convenient; I can just sit and listen to his advice and tips. Regarding opponents, I always play myself, using my own hands. Sometimes I have two or three "heads" helping me think. If I can't play, I decline and suggest playing another time. I immediately tell some players that I'll be playing from a specific computer belonging to a specific person. If they agree, we play; if not, then we don't.