I don't understand why "white wins"?

Hi, 

So playing games on here in bullet, when I'm clearly ahead in material, position etc -  the opponent wins? I'm perplexed and annoyed - I was just in a tournament and this happened around 3x. It's so annoying - especially when you've had a good game and got to a winning position after a tough game - and then it gets taken from your feet?!

Hahah PLease help - is it just that the game ends [ on time ] on the opponents turn?

Thanks in advance from a new player - 10 months online

Douglas
Bangkok

White wins because you ran out of time, and White has "sufficient mating material" - even though it's just because of one pawn!  If White had only had a King remaining, then the result would be a draw because White would have "insufficient mating material".

I recommend checking out these two support articles:

https://support.chess.com/article/268-my-opponent-ran-out-of-time-why-was-it-a-draw

https://support.chess.com/article/128-what-does-insufficient-mating-material-mean

Thanks Alramech, I guessed that might be the case, I'll have to find out if its the same on Lichess as its v v annoying. Tho I'm new to playing onine or in any form of competition / even against a clock. I'll rad the two articles and thank you so much for your answer and time. 

Best, 
D.

Glad I can help!  These are the same rules used on the other big sites as well; these are standard online chess rules.

Bear in mind that each player has a separate clock that tracks the time that THEY have spent. The clock in the bottom right corner of the screen tracks your time remaining, the opponent's clock is in the top right corner. When one player runs out of time, they lose the game automatically.

So it's easy for you to keep track of how much time you have left before you forfeit.

Chess clocks have been standard in competitive play since the 1880s... about 140 years.

Thanks Blueemu, yes I'm aware of that, being in such a stronger position many times - [ I caught a queen and several minor pieces and my opponent still won in one game ] - I agree there have to be rules, but it would be nice to use a site with a different algorithm which would allow for a person with a clearly heavy advantage to win

Well, think about the alternative where you run out of time, but it is declared a win for you.  If you're ahead some material, you'd just stop moving, and let your time run out and be declared the winner.  It can't work like that.

If you don't want time management to be a big part of your game, you shouldn't be playing bullet.

you could always try playing 3min or 5min instead to practice for bullet

that's what I do

but i still suck at bullet...

These aren't just "online" rules, they are also the rules in over the board tournaments, and have been for decades.

The problem of playing without clocks is that if you end up matched against a poor sport, once you are in a winning position they might just refuse to move, and prolong the game forever.

A chess game isn't supposed to be decided by who dies of old age first.

lmao what a bad sport

ngl if I was losing I would not have the patience or arrogance to be so stuck up in never losing to just sit there and never move

but it makes sense

It's not even just that.  Grandmasters often spend half an hour or more thinking about a move; with unlimited time they might legitimately spend that much time on every move.

yea i actually didn't think about it that way-