I give a trophy to anyone that put up a fight till the end, whether I won os lost. If it was a GREAT chess match, I give them a "Good Game" trophy. I also give people trophys for giving me great advice, and other such things. I have only given out  7 trophys though, I am sure to pcik the right people.

I think we should have a maximum number of trophys you can give out in a period if you ask me, maybe that will make people more selective.

Personally, I don't see the usefulness of the trophies.  If I win, lose, stalemate, resign, I'll just send my own comments to the other player.  I.e. 'good game', 'nice chatting with you', 'you really took over on move 21.' etc.  Having a trophy graphic to send seems less meaningful. 

i think they need to redo the trophies too and i like many of the suggestions posted.  i give alot of tacos out, i think after a game of chess people need someting to eat and nothing is better than a taco.  i give the good game and good sportsmanship trophies out alot to when applicable

I think the Trophy feature is a way of showing sportsmanship , it reminds me of what footballers do after a contest when they exchange kits.

more suggestions:

When you win:

That was easy!

Thanks for being a patsy/jobber.

Did you know this wasn't checkers?

When you lose:

If this was in person, I'd punch you.

It's amazing that despite how bad you played, I played worse.

Would you like to play again? Because I'd hate to.

i like that idea will use it

They are Facebook-esque "Free Gifts" are they not?  I mean, a lot of them don't really seem to have *anything* to do with chess games.

"Enjoy a Taco" ?

Sometimes, I use them (or have them used on me) almost as a form of trash talk.  A friend (who definitely isn't a mentor/coach of mine) once sent me a "Great Student!" trophy and wrote a note on it about "many hard lessons to come."

Most of my friends are jerks, incidentally.

Trophies are meant to be given to everyone (winner and losers) to aknowlegde to the other player that it was a good or enjoyable game to play. Also, the trophies are not all geared around the winners (Good Game, Good Sportsmanship, Fishy Play, Novelty Alert, Strikiningly Strong Play, I Want a Rematch, Mental Relaxation, Great Defence, Strong Fortress, Exhausting Game, Moving Up, Game Imprint, a-MAZE-ing, Inventive Game, Surprise Ending, Small Difference, and Chance) are all trophies that don't have to be given to the winner.

ADK

I think the trophies are fun and funny and can have almost any meaning one decides to impart upon them.

Sometimes I am not sure what the intent behind some of them is but that just makes them more fun.

Fishy Play and Precise Calculation seems to be particularly layered.

True

Sounds like a good idea.

In have a gazillion good sportsmanship trophies, all of them for resigning lost games. I never know how to respond to them. I don't really get by what standards sportsmanship is measured. Ah well, if you ever get a trophy from me, you can feel really special, I don't give many.

You have a point

Giving out trophies to deserving opponents is the right thing to do.  It is my way of showing appreciation to their ubber good chess skills, or simply put,  ubber good sportsmanship.