Okay, so I have recently played several games where I am in a fairly lost position but sometimes I like to play to learn or just to see if my opponent knows the endgame.

In some of these games my opponents have either hinted that I should resign or flat out asked me to resign.

I don't know if it is just my rebellious nature or not, but asking me to resign is sure to make the game get drawn out longer by me making them checkmate me.

This may be in part to the first chess book I ever got by Silman which gave info on openings, middle game, end game and other factors. One of those other factors said that you never have to resign. You can make your opponent beat you in the openings, middle game and end game.

There have been times where I just didn't want to continue when I know I've lost, but isn't it some breach of etiquette to tell your opponent to resign?

 Sure, it might be considered rude and some may assume that you think you can still win if you don't resign. But I've played enough games to see that just because someone can win the opening and middle game doesn't mean they can't blunder or that they know their endgame. It may be unlikely and don't tell me that high rated players don't make mistakes because I've played in several USCF rated tournaments where I beat players in the 1800+ range because they made mistakes. 

I'm no where near the best, but don't tell me when to resign, or else I probably wont. 

Frankly, I think both you and your opponents who asked you to resign were being rude.

 

It's unreasonable to demand a resignation.

 

But I think its even worse to continue to play on when you have no conceivable chance of even drawing.

 

I think a fair compromise is, if you wish to ask someone to resign you should also post irrefutable analysis that leads to mate, a pawn promotion or some other unlosable position.

no one should ask another to resign

but

if you are in an obvious lost position  and feel you can gain something from seeing your opponent play it to conclusion then why not flatter their ego a little and say

'i would normally resign this lost position but i would like to learn from your endgame technique to see how it is done'

of course occasionally you will find an opponent who has less idea than you of how to win the position - then watch the fun and bluster.

the main thing is to keep it friendly and stroke egos a little :o) 

In my opinion it is never correct to ask someone to resign.  It's the player's right to resign whenever he/she wants. 

I think asking someone to resign is a sign of arrogance and impatience.  Why do people ask their opponents to resign?  I am sure the answer is So they can move along.  Now, let's take these same folks and rewind to when they were first learning chess...how do you think they'd feel if someone said that to them?  You can't honestly tell me that you'd want to be bullied to quit a game and feel ok about it.  Besides, especially in THIS slower environment where you have multiple games going, instead of asking someone to resign, go start another game with someone else!  Or go post a video of chess or post your last brilliant win...this entire environment is a slower one -- with an Over The Board game, that is your only focus, so I can see if one wants to speed things up (although it still gives them no permission to ask their opponent to resign).  If the person you are playing is good enough, then they should be good enough to see that they should resign on their own, but aside from that, settle down and be polite.  Try it for once, it won't kill you.

Personally, sometimes I like to play "won" or "lost" games out just to make sure I still remember how to convert the point or (attempted) draw.  I have no problem with someone making me prove that I can finish them off as long as they don't suddenly start to wait until they have ten minutes left to move.

I find it fascinating the expectations some people have of each other during CC games.  Like everyone else, I'd prefer that hopelessly lost opponents would (figuratively) reach for a cup of hemlock, but if they want to play on that's their right and it's rude to ask them to resign.  That's like saying, "Now that I've got a won position, what are you doing cluttering up my busy chess schedule?"  As Miss Manners once said in a different situation, "There's no polite way to say that."

 

There can be many reasons why someone would play on when hopelessly lost.  But who cares what they are?  If your position is that good, then it simply plays itself.  I've got one going on right now where I've been up a rook in an endgame for the last ten moves.  During that time I've pinned and exchanged his last piece, cut his king off from one side of the board, generated a passed pawn there, and have been pushing it for the last three moves.  I'd guess I've spent maybe a minute per move total -- most of it just reorienting due to the fragmented nature of the CC process.  Tomorrow I'm going to wake up, log on, he'll have done something non-threatening, I'll do a quick recheck to make sure I haven't missed anything, push my passed pawn another square, and then move onto the next game a minute later.  There's no reason to get upset or let it spoil my day.

 

Now I'm talking about winning against a hopelessly lost position.  If you can't win with your position (in any position) with little or no thought, then maybe your opponent has a point about playing on...

 

L8erz...

=wild=

KnightNotHorse wrote:   Try it for once, it won't kill you.

---

You sure about that?

lol

 

 I personally don't feel you have the right to ask your opponent to resign ever,it is their right to play the game out if they choose.If your game is really won then don't worry about it.

I belive chess etiquette (possible even a rule somewhere) dictates that a player may only offer a draw (or resign themselves).

You should never resing... unless you want to do it.

I would never ask some one to resign, and there are many positions that seem lost but can be saved by mistakes. An overwhelmingly lost game would be another thing to continue.

It is after all your choice to resign and even if the position looks lost, you might just want to find out how it ends, or drag it out from spite. It is like trying to force a person to move a piece to a square you want, but no one would try that. I have won and lost a game or two by checkmates out of the blue after castling on the kingside with rooks simply moving to the bottom rank. Annoying if it happens to you, great if you do it.

I would never ask or suggest that my opponent should resign.  I have played games in which I was up three pieces and had an easy win, but the other player still has the right to play the game out to a checkmate.  It is good practice to make sure you remember how to mate with two rooks, or a rook and a queen, etc.  I normally resign when I am in an obvious lost position; but I am not offended if my opponent does not do the same.

Ok, I resign and then I find out your computer went down the next day and you cant log in and play past the deadline. I would be using some choice words at that point. Forcing a resignation prematurely according to whom... Just because one is ahead, a win should never be assumed. You have to prove to me, you are capable of winning! 

Personally I like the satisfaction of getting checkmate and see resignation as a cop out.  While I agree it can be iritating in an obvious winning position especially if your opponent starts dragging it out, but those games just drop out of sight on my games in prog list and I forget about them until its my move.  Sometimes I resign just to get it over with but if my opponent has made previous mistakes I often play it out until I see no way back.  Saying that, I move pretty quick if I'm online.

"but isn't it some breach of etiquette to tell your opponent to resign?"

Absolutely. You are morally not required to resign, ever.  If you position is so bad that he should ask you to resign, why can't he just beat you quick?

 

 

Yes, it is a breach of ettiquette to ask for a resignation. If done repeatedly it is also harrassing the opponent, according to the rules, in my USCF TD opinion anyway. That may vary, but I don't think it will too much.

What I REALLY want to know is, HermitBoy ... 1800 players are HIGH Rated?? What planet do you live on?! Someplace where Masters will not come by my board and snicker? I want to come LIVE there~! ...and play Chess forever, with a smug, knowing look on my face . . .

Sign Me, Abused "A" player  }8-))

well yeah, i agree with you, i never resign until i only have my king left, even if they are doing extremely bad too i just get so bored with messing around aimlessly that i let them win.

If your opponent doesn't resign you get to watch him die slowly....