Resign when you feel that there is nothing more to be learned from continuing.
A beginner's most important task is to LEARN. Scoring points is secondary.
When Should a Beginning Player Resign a Game?
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Sep 9, 2022
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#23
JudiKay wrote:
So, I'd like opinions on this, please. It seems more courteous to resign and move on, but at what point should I do that?
Almost never. As a beginner, you should play, even a losing position.
Even losing, you get to see basic mating patterns, like bare king vs. king + rook. Or pushing pawns to make a queen. etc. All are very important to learn. Losing can be an important learning experience, so depriving yourself of that just hurts yourself.
I say almost never, because there is one condition that I feel you should resign, and that is when you are in a totally losing position AND it is going to take a lot of moves to turn that into a loss.
never resign even when losing is a good habit.
I disagree.
When there is no chance of winning or drawing. If you think that your opponent has an overwhelming advantage and you can't see any way you can turn it around, then it's time to resign.
If, as the topic title states, a beginner player plays another beginner player, there is no such position where there is no chance of winning or drawing. Even if your opponent is much much stronger than beginner (say, rated 1500), there is STILL a strong possibility of swindling a draw by some stalemate trap.
Anecdotal evidence coming: there was a topic the other day, where the guy (not even a beginner) resigned after "losing the exchange", lacking the sense to count the material before doing so. He actually had TWO pieces for the rook. And resigned in a winning position.
Teaching beginners to resign is very wrong.