Over the weekend I had someone (who will remain nameless) repeatedly offer a draw when the game looked as though they would lose.  It bothers me when some one does that.  Part of me wants to give them the draw and, if the game wasn't rated or their rating was higher than mine, be done with the game.  The other part, the more sadistic part, wants to just wipe them off the board, delay the game's ending until they only have the King left and I have promoted as many pawns as I have to queens.  I understand not liking to lose, I have lost more than 400 games and counting, but to deny someone a sure victory by offering a draw to me is a form of poor sportsmanship. I don't think the person offering the draw in those circumstances are true poor sportsmen, I doubt they would throw the chess pieces against the wall and stomp out of the room if we were sitting down to a real game, but it does bother me a little when they do that.  If you know the game is lost and you don't want to continue with the game, resign.  I have done that many times.  Ask anyone who I've played.  I have even offered draws when I truly believe the game will have no winner, but I've never asked, nor will I ever ask for a draw when I know I have lost the game.  No one should.  Now that I've got that off my chest, off to play some chess....Jake

 Well spoken.      

man i totaly agree it also pisses me off when someone resignes the game when you are only one move away from the win, i mean come on let me have my victory would it hurt you so bad to let finish?

I think I'm guilty as charged, clinters, on resigning when there are only a few moves left before my ultimate defeat.  Never thought of it from your point of view.  I was always glad when the other guy resigned, I didn't have to worry about making a huge blunder that cost me a sure victory.  But you won me over.  No more resigning.  I'll let the victor enjoy the fruit of his hard won labor.  Thanks for the heads up on that.

If I can change just one opionion on that subject then my work here is done.

I usually ask the would-be victor if she minds if I resign. Your opponent may be working on a more efficient endgame or honing their closing skills...and I'd hate to nip a good lesson in the bud.

Now, if it's just me and my king dancing around while the board piles up with PawnQueens, I'll just drag out the game: I have more challenging games waiting in the wings to focus on and if Vlad The Impaler wants to waste time showing off 9 queens, I'll let them: but it'll be on my terms.

Cap