I started my first greeter game today, and my opponent blundered a knight on move four.  This being a greeter game, I decided not to take the knight, but I let my opponent know in the chat that I could have taken it.  The problem is, I'm unsure of what philosophy to adopt here.

I wonder how the rest of you play greeter games.  Do you let the opponent blunder multiple times without penalty?  Do you play to win at all costs?  Or do you allow X blunders and then go in for the kill?  :-)

I'm not a greeter but if I were, I would not purposely play blunders but I also would not try to crush a new member either.  I would merely play a fun, relaxing game.  Of course, when I was a new member and was playing a greeter, I did what I could to win, which is something that I do most every game I play.

I also believe that most anyone could sign on to be a greeter and that if a low-rated player is playing you then maybe he or she is making the blunders because he or she is still learning.

  One thing that I found to be very frustrating with my greeter game was that he continuously used vacation time and the game dragged on and on over several months.

Thanks for the replies.  Are there any other opinions on this topic?  :-)

Perhaps play to win but offer suggestions and encouragement after a blunder?

I think if I was a greeter I would try to play the part of Fritz on sparring mode (I think it's that mode, haven't used it in a while), where Fritz plays some less-than-strong moves to allow the opponent tactical opportunities. I think I would be too scared to take a hanging piece as my mind would conjure up a scene of the fresh-eyed and optimistic chess journeyman weeping and cursing fate as his dreams are dashed. No wait, I'm thinking of me there...nevermind.

Interesting ideas.

I have an update:  My opponent made his move, and he still didn't move the knight away, even after I let him know it was able to be captured.  So I took it.  In fact, I had to do this, as he was then threatening Nc7+, winning a rook.

But I will go easy on him, as he's probably new to the game.  I know just how discouraging it is to be taken apart by a stronger player.  :-)

All new members will be crushed without mercy (where possible), a proper introduction to the game being of the utmost importance.

I spent eighteen months playing at my chess club before I won my first rated game... just passing the favour on, a sort of natural selection.

In a word:  yes.  I play to win.  I'm not that good, so the new person probably will have a fighting chance.  

When I was a greeter, I would either:

1. Practice new openings- This is how I got interested in the French!

2. Play a teaching sort of game - Pretty much the same as your example.

3. Play to win - This is a somewhat rare occurrence, I only play 100% seriously when the new player obviously knows the rules, and is playing well. (To my chagrin, I have lost a few greeter games... but it was interesting!)

I'm not a greeter, but I've said this previously: intentionally losing may be well-intended, but it teaches the wrong lesson. In entering any kind of competition, a player knows he can win, lose or draw/tie. If he cannot handle any defeat - even an initial one - he needs to re-examine his motives for competing.

As a greeter I aim to win; primarily, however, I use these games to practice new openings, or play with greater abandon than I normally would. If my opponent blunders then they suffer - but I also mess up with alarming regularity. Basically I'm not too concerned about losing - the games are unrated, so it doesn't really matter about the outcome.

Also, as a new greeter, you'll start to notice that not everybody wants to play their greeters games; out of every 5 games only you'll be lucky if 2 go passed the 5th move.

No, if they offer me a draw, I take it even if they are down.

I don't play as hard on them because:

1. it's unrated

2. I want them to stay on the site so a less brutal win or even a draw would be better. : )

3. they are new so I let them get adjusted so if they come back I play them again.

ADK

I am not a greeter, in fact I am new to chess.com, but I would be disapointed if my opponent did not play a solid game.  You dont do a weaker player a favor by "going easy" on him.  If you are obviously a much stronger player you might offer some coaching or analysis afterward, or at least ask if he is interested in it.  We learn far more from loosing than from winning, even if it can be frustrating.

Being a greeter is rubbish. This is all you get:

"C'mon, play faster, play faster, play faster..."

This annoys me and I drag it out until they quit.

i play for win but i never play well in unrated games, so if they play and dont stink they usually win.

Looking back on my first game here (vs a greeter), I wonder if he didn't slack off a little. He was an 1800+ rated player (and I've been bouncing around just under 1600 for awhile now), and I won the game! It was encouraging, so, of course, I wanted to play more!

I crushed my greeter in 11 moves. He was only 877 and before I quit chess few years ago I was around 1500-1600. So it was pretty much what I was expecting. It was good to see that my "skills" were still there

Damn, I want to be a greeter and beat the crap out of those noobs. (I'm sure someone takes that seriously so I'll say it..... it's a joke). Probably some chinese 10 year old kid is going to beat me tho.

Not sure if this was meant to be funny, but I can relate to that. 

My first ever experience with a Class  A player was over 6 years ago when I just started to play chess and I hopelessly watched  him destroy me with surgical precision.

He then asked me if I just flipped a coin to select my moves or if there was something far more clever that he missed.

Though he was nice enough to go ahead and "Morpheus"  me  with the blue pill/red pill shtick and that's how I got re-introduced to chess.  Worked for me, but I'm guessing most adults would rather shy away than come to terms that they suck at something or that they needed to put in some work.

Natural selection has its benefits, but chess.com may lose a wider audience if people get scared away by greeter ownage or having their greeter Pei-Mei them into submission and graciously snarl "Do you wish to possess this kind of power!??" :)