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)
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=
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.
"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-))
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