Sending a Game Trophy (Badge)

If you have ever really enjoyed a game you played and want to let your opponent know, you can send them a game trophy (badge). Personally I send a game trophy for every game I play, because I think it is good sportsmanship and helps me make new friends. Game trophies are game-related awards and must be sent from within a game. You can only send/receive a game trophy to/from someone you have played a game with.

The Help page explains how: https://support.chess.com/article/680-what-are-game-and-community-awards-how-do-i-give-one.

The game trophy is one of the least used features on chess.com. When I look at my opponents' profiles, my game trophy is often the only one they have. In fact, I have played with opponents who have been members for several years and have played thousands of games, but my game trophy is the first one they have ever received. When I ask for one in return, they reply that they are happy to but have no idea how or send me a cheer instead.

Game trophies are different from fun trophies (cheers). If you want to send someone an award just to say hi, or sorry, or anything else that has nothing to do with any particular game, you can send a cheer. You can send a cheer to anyone whether you played a game with them or not. A game trophy can ONLY be sent to someone you played a game with and is sent through a game you played with them.

Part of the confusion is the terminology. Game trophies go by different names. The main awards page calls them badges. On the Achievements page when trying to earn 10 of them to get the Prize Winner achievement, it calls them game trophies. In a game's Info tab, the link is called Send Award, but when you click the link, the pop up page to select one is titled Select a Trophy. Cheers are also a type of achievement and are called fun trophies when trying to earn the Trophy Hunter Achievement. Thus, you can send/receive two different trophies: game trophies and fun trophies. Clear as mud?

Here are the game trophies I can send:

Here are some reasons I send them:

Good Game, Good Sportsmanship: If nothing stood out about the game, I send one of these. I send Good Game most of the time.

I Slipped: If I made a huge blunder (like losing my queen by accident) and lost the game, I send this one.

Pawn Magician, Knight Virtuoso, Bishop Commander, Lord of the Rook, Connoisseur of the Queen: When I notice my opponent played certain pieces well, I send one of these.

Sorry About the Blunder: If my opponent made a huge blunder (like losing the queen by accident) and lost the game, I send this one.

Did You Let Me Win?: If my opponent resigned early or abandoned the game or had a much higher rating than me and I still won, I send this one.

Strikingly Strong Play, Precise Calculation, Key Move, Brilliant Tactical Play: If my opponent had a much lower rating than me but played very well, beat me, or almost beat me, I send one of these.

For the reasons stated above, I encourage you to send game trophies.

For additions, corrections, deletions, and updates to this post, please comment below. I am always looking to improve.