Was I right to request a draw?

Hello all,

oops. was supposed to say that I was defeating a higher ranked player until my touch screen let me down. Maybe it felt the heat from my thumb or something but I never once pressed the screen which moved my rook next to their king unguarded. As a result it was game over pretty much, I only had one rook left against his two and a knight. You could say I wasnt winning as he had a piece more than I did, but I had him pinned in well and truely in that his rooks were unable to get into play as well as the most recent check ment he had lost his knight. My touch screen cost me the victory so I explained what happened via the in game chat and requested a draw. He neither responded to my message or accepted the draw. I feel really let down as I was in such a stronger position when it happened. This player I believe was a premium member as it had a crystal next to his name and I dont know if this is just my opinion but I would have thought premium members came with better sportsmanship.

If your thumb, or equipment fails, it's your problem, not theirs. It's reallybad form to offer a draw in a lost position, no matter how you got there.

1) Your touch screen didn't let you down, you misclicked or whatever you call it.

2) He is not responsible for your mistake. It is not a sign of lack of sportsmanship for him to not accept your draw.

3) Folks at your rating make mistakes like that all the time (heck, I make some real blunders and I'm about 400 points higher). How would he even be sure you really had a touch screen error?

4) Use a real computer for blitz chess. Evn if you do, sometimes you will misclick. I've done so. My opponents have done so. None of them or I have expected our opponent to accept a draw.

I appreciate the responses. However I dont agree with them so far. Especially the second one. Point 1 - I made no error as I explained. Point 2 - fair enough he is not responsible for what happens but again I had made no error. It was not as if I made a bad move and wanted him to let me off. Point 3 - Appreciate that sometimes PCs are not always available i.e travelling, laying in bed.

I thought Chess would be a more Gentlemanly game, rather than the egos of football/soccer etc. Turns out I was wrong.

It's just one game - let it go.  And I agree with those who say don't ask for a draw in a lost position.

requesting draws when the position is won..That is something you need to learn ASAP.

you play to win the game. 

better sportsmanship? you lost the game on your own, your fault. dont blame your opponent for YOUR mistakes. 

I played on once when an opponent made a mouseslip. He became abusive. The thing was -- I was concentrating on the game and never saw the chat messages until much later.

you were within your rights to request a draw. Your opponent was within his rights to ignore you, and beat you.

comment deleted by mod CR

It was your fault, not an electronic device.  Be an adult, and accept responsibility for your thumbs action.

yeah, you were wrong. idiot.

I accept that something went wrong with the technology. It happens in all sports that a loss is due to equipment failure. It's really irritating when it happens, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

You weren't wrong to ask for a draw. You had little chance of getting one. Move on to the next challenge.

I can feel for you but your opponent was in no way obliged to accept your draw. We've all made slip moves and sometimes when the slip is obvious I will throw out a draw.

Just today I was playing a game that was about equal and offered a draw and my opponent ignored it. I didn't realize that I had about 20 seconds to his 50 seconds. I started laughing at myself. I would not have offered the draw if I had seen the amount of time I had left.

Chalk it up to, "You win some you lose some."

no

Eh, it's internet blitz. Let it go. Just be glad money is not on the line. If the fault is on your end, he doesn't have any control over it, so you are putting someone in an awkward situation when you do that. I wouldn't want someone doing that to me. Just resign and move on. This may seem strange to you, but the bad sportsmanship is on your end. Never expect favors from your opponent in a competitve game.

Thanks for all the responses. I didnt get upset about it and throw things around the room like some seem to get the idea I did. Plus, well done to one particular response for twice making themselves appear to be rather childish.

and yes tkbunny, I selected the rook with intention of taking the knight but suddenly saw it move the opposite direction.

I can understand that the game was spoiled for you by the misclick and had you resigned so as to be able to get on with another game that you could enjoy more that would have been understandable and certainly sportsmanlike.

Being so concerned that you did not achieve a draw in the game I do not understand and seems to me unsportsmanlike.

You are careful to explain the fact that your opponent was higher ranked than yourself and that in your own estimation you were doing well in the game. So I suppose you feel cheated of the recognition in the eyes of others that the record of the draw would have accorded you. If so, I am afraid that seems rather petty.

You have the satisfaction of knowing that you managed to play in this game to a standard that pleased yourself. You can continue to seek the recognition of others in your next game. If your interest in the game continues, your achievements in this particular game are not going to be a high water mark. So good luck in your next game and I hope when next you start a thread it will be to claim boasting rights to an achievement not snatched away by a misclick. And if one of your opponents should misclick in the meantime you will be able to offer a take back with an additional measure of satisfaction. I wish you the good luck that it will be in a game that you are losing and against a lower ranked player.  :)

Hear, hear !