Poor Sportsmanship and Internet Chess: Your Thoughts and Stories

Oh, we use it for pizza, and eggs benny - I like it in sandwiches, too, sometimes.  We just don't think there's anything "Canadian" about it!

Making your 'chatability' views known BEFORE the game can be one means of avoiding misunderstandings. The proposed Extended Personal Profile   (http://www.chess.com/forum/view/community/who-is-player-x) and Essential Chess Type (http://www.chess.com/forum/view/community/its-another-rollover) can serve to highlight ones tendencies in this and other aspects of game play.

Calling it "Canadien Bacon" allows the restaurants in America (and probably elsewhere) to charge you more for some ham.     giving it a name of another country make it somehow "exotic" and therefore, higher priced - even if the hogs grew in Iowa or another of the US States.

quite possibly, almost all chessplayers take too many games too seriously, and fail to 'lighten up' at their own contributions....   maybe that is part of the affliction of all of us, being human ??  ya think??   good post.   I respond if my opponent chats, but usually don't start much or try to elicit chatter.

On the topic of ettiquette in chess, I have a question for everyone.  I've been limiting my correspondance games on chess.com because I don't have steady internet connectivity -- an unfortunate reality since I don't pay for internet and have to rely on those kind enough to leave open channels around.  So mostly I play live chess, but sometimes the wife comes home and needs her computer, or something comes up and I have to leave in the middle of a game.  If I have a material deficit or the game looks rather even, I apologize for cutting the game short and resign.  If I feel I have a small edge or am at a material gain, I explain that I must go, ask for a draw, and if that is denied resign.  I understand that nobody wants to start a chess game that will be interupted but life happens.  Am I being reasonable, or do I just need to play less chess?

Wow now those are some good ideas, it'd be great to see chess.com implement them.  I really like the player tendency overview, that would be some really useful information to have. 

And RetGuvvie you are probably right, a lot of us are doomed by our nature to be extremely competitive.

It doesn't actually require chess.com to do anything. Both schemes can be applied by any member today e.g. artfizz

I love chess.  I'm not great at it, but I just try to limit my mistakes.  I've played off and on since I was little.  A common assumption most people make is about the "chess type" of person...glasses, pocket protector, 8th level Grandmaster at World of Warcraft (or whatever the hell it is), etc.

As for me, I'm into chess, football, fishing, and an assortment of martial arts.  In all forms of competition, a certain level of respect is expected, and a certain level of respect can be commanded....if you know what I mean.

I'm also a moderator on the Official Dallas Cowboys forums, and I tell everyone the same thing when it comes to internet f***-tards:  ignore them.  Their life probably sucks anyway...either that, or they're probably just a 12 year old.  If it really is an adult, don't worry...you know they're not getting any anyway.

I like the correspondence type chess TC that's going on with chess.com...

1/3dys...I have several games going...I really enjoy bring oother parts of the world into my laptop on my desk in front of a chess set.....I like to greet my opponents...(like a handshake if you will)..some reply some don't...I might be playing against some sort of data base.....I still try and find the best continuation...yeah,losing is hard but it's a fact of the game.....even Chucky drops points now and again....makes us realize we are human.....love the game and play it......we are all making history....sore losers on the other hand...screw 'em...what much more can I say...........

Man up and rise up above the silly unsportsmanlike gestures.......be tactful, assertive, and play a hell of a damn good game.......battle on the 64 squares...

let the babies throw temper tantrums...........I'm an old US Army dog anyhow...

no pawns can't be thrown at me that I have not already dodged at one time or the other!!!!!!!!!!!

I am writing an article for this website with input from a couple of well known Grandmasters. You are going to be rather surprised at what they had to say on the subject. I should have the article done and up by Sunday evening. I consulted with the always helpful and completely great human being, Josh Waitzkin, while writing this. I'm still waiting for Susan Polgar's input, but have a couple of other Masters and their thoughts on this topic.

I should also say that I have written on this subject in other posts. You get a lower quality of human beings on some of the other chess sites. Yes, there are adult players on these sites but the village idiots always seem to find me when I attempt to play elsewhere. I have had nothing but great experiences here with my chess playing. This is the only place to play online chess.

I know what you mean, I have a lot of distractions going on at my house and am sometimes forced to abandon a faster game right in the middle of it.  Personally I just resign even when I'm clearly winning.  I can't expect my opponent to accept a draw just because I have to leave.  After all we both entered the game with an agreement on the time controls.  To expect anything less just because I can't meet my obligation on my end of the board to play the game to it's conclusion (be it to resignation or checkmate) seems a bit unfair. 

So rather then get into the inevitable situation where my opponent won't accept the draw (even if clearly losing) knowing that he'll get more points if I leave, I just avoid it altogether and resign.  That's just my personal take on it though.  Anyway hopefully you'll get some reliable internet soon so you won't have to worry about this.

p.s. Hey Hugh that article sounds interesting I'll be looking forward to it.

I just resign... when i am busy.