What is the best way to lose?

       The best way to lose is; Don't show up.  I lost a fight with Chuck Ladell last week, just like that.

np. I am not that good a player and I lose much more often than I win -- but I love the sport. It is always a delicate balance on when to resign. Usually, when I know (as BorgQueen says) the game is lost I resign. Also, when I feel like I am wasting everyones time I will resign as well. But as long as I think my opponent is being challenged (I am always challenged ) and I don't see checkmate I won't throw in the towel. Often, it is the losses that teach us more...

sport?!

That is wrong, I used an exaple that's it :P The question has already been answered by borgqueen.

I will admit it is a divided opinion and I will admit seeing a soccer game can be more exciting than a chess match (sorry, I know that is heresy here) but there are those who have made very convincing arguments that chess is a sport. There are several threads on Chess.com. This article in ChessNews is probably the most convincing argument in favor. FIDE lands solidly on the side that chess is a sport with the FIDE (World Chess Federation) having been recognized as an International Sports Federation by the International Olympic Committee.

We are off topic but I thought I would answer the question

dude, i don't even think volleyball is a sport.  chess is not a sport.  list every article you want.  i undersstand the desire to call it such, but nope.  AND resign lost positions.  

yeah why?!

i don't think chess is a sport, but volleyball is in my opinion (based off of the following deffinition)

A sport is an athletic game that has set rules, and features strategic plans in addition to brute force.

Play out lost positions all the way to checkmate (unless you are a master playing against another master, which is not who we are talking about).  Make your opponent earn the win.  All this anguish and introspection about "wasting" the opponent's time is utter nonsense.  If the opponent has such an easy win, have them show it to you on the board.  I have snatched victory (or at least a draw) from the jaws of defeat many times from my opponent who "had a won game" (apparantly not so "won" afterall, eh?).  Even in the most bleak positions, stalemate is sometimes a resource.

Chess is a battle to the death!  Resigning because you might "offend" the opponent, or because "there is nothing to learn", sounds like the unimaginative excuses of a lazy warrior.

i like to think opposing teams/players have to come in physical contact for an activity to be a sport. of course this is just an opinion.

"snatched victory". haha what a doof

As is often said: "It depends on the position."  For instance, K+R vs. K+Q is not an easy endgame.  There are some examples of drawn  positions in at least one endgame book.  If you think that there is a chance that you can meet the 50 move rule before you are checkmated, continue.  However, if your opponent has a simple win, why bother?

if you snatched a victory, then it's not a list game. it's not really that tough.

Please lock forum. Answer has been found by borgqueen and I'm tired of the off-topic comments that go back-and-forth. Just lock it!

"i like to think opposing teams/players have to come in physical contact for an activity to be a sport."

You could offend fans of golf and tennis with that definition :)

Overturn the chessboard and storm off in a rage? 

Kingdom_Hearts started the thread with an honest question and he has his answer. There are three other areas on the site where whether chess is a sport or not is discussed and the string of comments off subject make me sorry I even responded. Please lock the forum as Kingdom_Hearts has requested.

[Done.  Mod.]