Not resigning “when you should”

Hi all.

Recently, I have read a number of posts with very harsh comments toward people who do not resign “when they should” (i.e. when a position is clearly lost).

From my point of view, this is not really fair, especially if we talk about beginners. In my case, for example, I tend to do very silly things in the endings: it happens that I am a piece up, and I give it back with interests because of a silly blunder, or that I draw a position with K+Q against K (it happened only once, but it happened). I think, for beginners, it is vital to learn how to “win a won game”, and taking it all the way to checkmate is the best way to do it. Also, sometimes there are very neat situation where, with a sacrifice, you can force a draw, and you will never learn those if you resign when you think you cannot win any more.

The situation is of course different if we talk about high rating people – I would agree that if you are 2000, you resign in a K+R against K situation or in ending with a full piece down and no compensation!

What do you think?

Thanks in advance for any comments!

Andrea

This topic has been done over and over and over.
The bottom line has always been, resign if and when you feel you can't win.
If you do not resign and your opponent expects you to - bad luck to him.

Fzweb, thanks for the reply and the link - nice game!

Lithium, thanks to you as well, and apologies for not having checked if a similar post was existing before posting (even if I guess it will be hard, on a chess site, to find a chess-related post that has never been treated before! 

Some can see the forced mate in seven others can't see it till it's in two.  IMHO you should play the game until YOU see that you are mated. Not just lost, but finished.

Got your point! 

Rich great pic!!

HAHAHA!

Buonasera.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.You can never force your opponent to resign.A game is played as long as both sides keep hoping.Players on this site are not Grandmasters,so blunders are always possible.

Great picture :-D

let him choose his next move,,,u dont have the right to tell him what to do,,,he will resign when he wants to...

If you see the forced mate in 7 moves you should use the conditional moves.  That'll teach them.  

Well it taught me.

I've honestly blown enough "won" games that I question anyones reasons for resigning against me.

I have resignation criteria to go by. WHEN:

I know I am lost, and how they can win it ...

I am sure they know I am Lost, and how they can win it ...

There are no complications, time-pressure, or tactical traps that might avail me ...

THEN I would like to see them Resign ... 

That was a good one, Baron, I'll remember it next time I play! 

Generally, I resign when I have the feeling that there is nothing more to learn from the game. I never blame anyone for 'not resigning', because there is absolutely no rule which says that a player has to resign a lost position, it's their choice.  Besides, you still have to win, a winning position (a lot of players tend to make stupid mistakes, when they are leading).  

I am one of those... 

If you liked the picture, and/or you have that "Never-Say-Die" attitude, come join the Chess Spartans!!  Fight for Honor!  Fight for Glory!  This is Sparta!! 

http://www.chess.com/groups/home/chess-spartans

I usually play to the bitter end for these reasons:

1. I may learn something

2.you become a better competitor

3. it forces my opponent to play well

4. my opponent may make a howler

This topic has been done a few times, and will be done many more. My response has changed several times too. For me, today, In a clearly lost game, I'll ask my opponent if they mind if I play out a few moves. They usually never do. It can be good practice. At the same time, I wont drag it out too long. I think it's a manners thing.

My opinion of this game of chess, is that you have to capture the enemy king to declare that you won. When some players lose hearts and resign, your battle was half done. The bottom line is; prove to your opponent that you know how to win a winning game, if he does'nt want to throw in the towel.

If your life depends on it, never resign. If it's speed chess, never resign. Otherwise, use some common sense. Playing on in a hope less position, just in case your opponent will make some terrible mistake, is a waste of time. 99 % of the time you will lose and the time will be wasted. (You don't learn much playing out a massacre.) 1 % of the time you will win- but how satisfying is that? I like to win (or lose) due to good play, not gross mistakes.

Overall, I support the notion that a player should resign whenever he or she feels it is necessary.

For one, I am a beginner and have come back from pieces down due to my opponents overextending themselves.  Likewise, I have lost doing the same.

What really irks me is when people losing to me use that chat feature to complain that I didn't checkmate them yet when I manage to get a really good position.  I'm trying to learn good end game, and it's really rude for someone to complain like so and ruin my learning experience when they can do the same by simply resigning.  This has happened a few times only, but I recall each time pretty well.