English Chess Forum

should lose fewer rating points than those who wait for mate.

It sounds as though you would like a doubling cube in chess, which is indeed an interesting idea.

Steven DuCharme wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:18 pm

should lose fewer rating points than those who wait for mate.

Apart from those who resign a move or two before a beautiful finish to stop the opponent and spectators enjoying it.

I remember playing a game where I decided to let my opponent complete his elegant mating combination and he rewarded me by delaying the finish while he set about mopping up my remaining material!

... never won anything. On more than a few occasions I have considered resigning only to somehow end up winning/drawing. One particular example that sticks in my memory is in a rapidplay tournament against a strong junior feeling like I was being wiped off the board, when I spotted what I thought thought was a freeing/simplifying tactic which actually made their entire position collapse.

I personally don't have a problem with people who refuse to resign; while I do agree it is rather disrespectful to continue in an otherwise hopeless position; the object of chess is checkmate, so if they want to insist on it, then you can't complain.

I don't see anything wrong with sticking my hand out, if you can see the loss is inevitable and yet some ways away (particularly if its the last round of a congress, or a dead of winter league match in middle of nowhere) But if you've let it get as far as a mating combo, its only proper to let them finish it.

I'm sure they teach juniors never to resign, on more than one occasion I've managed to queen a pawn, as well as been pieces and pawns up and they are still playing on trying to manufacture stalemate - that's the ones who didn't wipe me off the board of course

I read somewhere (I think it was The Chess Scene by Levy and Reuben but may be wrong) that sometimes when players fail to resign in an absolutely hopeless position it's because they are trying to get over the shock of losing.

Andrew Zigmond wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:51 am

I read somewhere (I think it was The Chess Scene by Levy and Reuben but may be wrong) that sometimes when players fail to resign in an absolutely hopeless position it's because they are trying to get over the shock of losing.

I'm usually more shocked when I manage to win Andrew

Andrew Zigmond wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:51 am

I read somewhere (I think it was The Chess Scene by Levy and Reuben but may be wrong) that sometimes when players fail to resign in an absolutely hopeless position it's because they are trying to get over the shock of losing.

I'm sure that is true. Another reason would be if a crowd of vultures has gathered to watch the resignation and the player decides to wait until they have got bored and gone away.

People resign only when the pain of playing on in a position exceeds the agony of accepting defeat.