Spite Checks

Roughly related to the "Losers" thread, this is when your opponent checks you just to delay your inevitable checkmate.

Why would anyone do this? Get it over with and move on to other games.

Delaying the inevitable checkmate is how I play from move 1 onwards. Sorry about that.

In my first tournament, I played six games and lost every one.  The last game was the most embarrassing.  I was playing the only other person who had lost all his games.  He was so bad that I quickly demolished him. 

At the end of the game, my opponent was about to give up.  But first he delivered a final spite check. 

I don't know what was more horrifying -- realizing that my King was actually checkmated, or the fact that I had to explain it to my opponent because he was such a terrible player.  He didn't realize he had won the game, and I had to argue with him to prove that I was mated! 

Wait--so what's the point of a spite check? Just for the heck of checking that guy one more time, or just in case it was a mate you didn't realize?

Oh gosh, that exact thing happened to me!

It flustered me, but made me even more determined to get better.

What does it matter whether it's a check or not, as long as it's a move beyond the point of no hope?

I'm not sure exactly what the position was with the "spite" check, but there are reasons to check your opponent when you are losing.  If your opponent can check you indefinitely, then (of course) they have won a draw and in that case checking you is a good plan for them.  

Also its possible that by checking you over and over again they might accidentally happen upon a tactic where they can gain an advantage.  A really good player would probably be able to calculate that checking over and over again isn't going to do anything except tick off your opponent who is going to win.  But a lesser player might not be able to calculate that far and might try checking over and over again in order to get closer to a possible tactic that they can calculate.  

The lesson here (for us all) is to protect your King.  You should probably not have your King available for a whole bunch of checks.  (But of course, exceptions happen). If you have a plan you have to watch your king for checks.  Also a lot of tactics are lost when they can check you a few times and screw up your plan.  So when you are checked (and you are in the middle of winning), then you must be very careful to be sure that you move your King out of check so that you aren't in trouble.  Also its good to try to move your King to a square where they cannot check you anymore.

This is probably all obvious for everyone, but just felt like sharing.  :)

Who knows why people do these 'spite checks'. This is the first time I've heard of this. I wouldn't see this as an offense if the win will be mine anyway. If anything, its really laughable seeing someone put up this futile resistance to losing.

On the other hand, if (in a losing situation) the checks are to buy time for repositioning and avoiding checkmate...maybe in attempts (as futile as it may very well be) in finding ways to force a draw by stalemate, I can understand that. The only other reason I can think of is that the losing player wants to go out (in his/her mind) on a strong note. No doubt that a seasoned player with the win in sight can work around this with relative ease.

~DW

Some people like to play it out to checkmate, and in a position where you can prolong the game with a check that's technically best play.

The real question is if checkmate is inevitable and forced why they haven't resigned before that point (assuming they saw it coming)?  Given that we're dealing wtih non-resigners in the first place should it be any suprise that the fight to the bitter end?

"Do not go gently into that good night, rage,rage, against the dying of the light." --Dylan Thomaas. 

I'm with EvenDeeperBlue on this one, many of my games involve desperatly trying to escape the approaching Checkmate. Sometimes I'm lucky and the other player makes a blunder and I may get a draw ( saved by the bell  lol ).

This made me lol : D

Standard Procedure for the most part, knowing the mate is unstoppable most players give that spike check and then resigns not a big deal.

You probably spent more time complaining about spite checks than you lost being spite checked. In my opinion you should take your own advice to the spite checkers and "Get it over with and move on to other games."

Nothing is wrong with a spite check. Typically after I run out of spite checks resignation comes. Some spite checks can lead to a stale mate or drawn position if your opponent blunders so that is why I use them.

The worst sort of spite check is the one that leads to others ad infinitum (perpetual check).

I like to spite check when I am winning!

When I am winning, and my opponent doesn't give up I sometimes like to take all of his/her prices before I checkmate them

You should have asked him what legal move he thought you had, and then played it. :P

Common wisdom states to play for mate, not to wipe an opponent off the board by taking all their pieces.

If you want to make a statement, checkmate them quickly so they have more time before the next round to think about the game.

Spite checks are a show that a mate in 6 is indeed a mate in 6 and not a mate in 3, etc.