Negative Points

Here is an idea I just had.  This is just an idea, and I'd like to know what you all think.  This would certainly NOT be implemented into the current season as we're already too far in to change it now, but if everyone likes it, we can use it next season.

We have had a lot of games end by timeout.  Unfortunately, at only 10-minutes per turn, more games end by timeout than do not.  However, I think it is safe to say that most of us would rather play the game out, than win by an early timeout (it just doesn't feel as satisfying as a "real" win).

The flip side to this is games that drag on too long.  Of course this is a perpetual debate on Chess.com when one side believes that they have the game won, and the other side seems to be prolonging the inevitable in the hopes of a blunder, draw, or timeout.

So in order to discourage timeouts, and encourage "good sportsmanship," I propose (for future seasons, NOT the one that has already started) that losing teams also lose points based on HOW they lost.

Resignation -1 point

Checkmate -2 points

Timeout -3 points

Winning teams would still get +3 points for a win regardless of how they won, and draws would still be +1 point for both teams, but by subtracting points for a loss, we can hopefully cut down on the high number of timeouts.

What do you think?

I can understand timeouts, but why is there a difference between resignation and checkmate?  Also of course no team wants to lose by time out, but sometimes people just get sleepy, or have to go eat or whatever.

I understand that no one WANTS to lose by timeout.  And if this system seems too harsh, we don't need to do it.  It's just an idea at this point.  The thinking is to provide more of an incentive to have SOMEONE online to keep the game alive.  The difference between resignation and checkmate comes from comments I've read about games dragging on for hours longer than they need to (this is especially true if people have been online for over 10 hours straight).  If one team has a significant lead, the other team is less likely to drag it out if they can save a point by bowing out gracefully (don't let anyone from the Chess Spartans hear me talking like this ).  Again, like I said, this is just an idea.

Thanks for commenting.  I'd love to hear more thoughts on it.

Checkmate and resignation should be the same. People would be just resigning move before mate to lose less points...

I dont like this idea because no one loses on time by purpose. They shouldn't be punished...

I agree, though it could be seen as the group leader's one way or another being irresponsible to his group. Or as the group's lack of interest. (They don't care, if it really was important they would be on it.)

It looks like a good idea to me. Maybe the winning team can have the option to request only -1 for checkmate if they feel the other team lost because they didn't see it coming.

I like th idea. However, I think only time outs should be punished. Resignations should be punished if the game was a draw game or something like that... I don't agree on "-2" checkmate, because if the team know that they will be time out they will resign....One more thing if the team runs out of time not making any move, they should lose -4 points....

And maybe the winning team can also request counting a resign as a timeout if it's only like the first 8 moves or something.

Thanks for all your thoughts.  I really don't think this idea is ever going to become an actual rule cuz there's too much disagreement and controversy over it.  (Why am I suddenly hearing the words to the old School House Rock song, "I'm Just a Bill" going thru my head?  )  Besides, I think it's accurate that losing sucks bad enuf without adding additional punishment to it.  Like I said, it was just an idea.  We'll keep everything the way it is now.  Thanks for all your input.

I think resignation is fine should not be treated differently for checkmate, or people will ust resign before being checkmated.