When you feel you have nothing to learn by playing on
When should you resign?
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Jan 12, 2012
0
#3
When you're just learning about the game it's probably best to play until the mate. Play until you're no longer learning anything in a lost position.
I used to be one of these people who would panic and resign early when things were starting to be a bit tricky, at my club though i've been encouraged to go on playing so that i improve and also learn how to defend or to get a draw ...
Jan 12, 2012
0
#5
brisket wrote:
When should you resign, it seems I must be confused because always thought it was rude to quit on someone when they are wining a game. But it seems as if it is actually rude to keep playing. When should you resign against someone how for back should you when you do it.
If you don't know, don't resign.
You should resign if you're lost. Not losing, but plain lost. That's typically in a case where the opponent has a clearly winning uncounterable plan and you have no counterplay, i.e. the opposing king and pieces are safe. One exception is if your opponent just uncorked what is clearly the beginning of a mating combination; I think it is courteous to let the game score end with the mating move then.
You should also consider time and energy. If I blunder away a minor piece in the opening and don't see any meaningful compensation for it (like at least one or maybe two pawns, a vulnerable king, and so on), I usually resign on the spot, especially if I play an equally or higher rated opponent. Losing an exchange, on the other hand, means almost nothing as far as continuing to play goes, as minor pieces are not much weaker than rooks, and can be even stronger if you can keep files from opening.
Though this thread deals more directly with when to resign, probably more from the perspective of when you are sure you have lost, I am curious as to the difference in your rating if you play it out or resign?
Also I have a really cool puzzle for why you don't give up when it looks as if you are beaten. It is in the Forum More Puzzles entitled Never Give Up. No one has tried as of yet. I appreciate any feed back.
Just my opinion but this is what i teach people...
1. Beginners through USCF D class - keep on playing because you never know.
2. USCF C class - This is the middle ground between knowing when to resign and trying to play on. Alot depends on your opponent.
3. USCF B class and up - By this time you should know when to resign.
When a draw or a win is not a realistic outcome.
Resign immediately. Especially after 1. e4 or 1. d4.
NEVER
If you resign too early, you may miss a winning or drawing continuation on the board or at the very least a potential swindle. If you resign too late, all you lose is time and energy. It's a matter of making sure there are no winning or drawing plans and that the position is clear enough that a swindle is plainly not in the cards. Then you resign, to save yourself and your opponent further grief.
If, of course, you don't have anything better or more fun to do with your time (playing more games?), and you quite enjoy causing your opponent grief (i. e. you're an idiot), you can play on long past the point it's interesting for either side.
Here's what you should do.
1)Get into a completely lost position
2)Wait until one minute before your time runs out
3)Resign
I'de say that resigning is option when you don't have any further plans on lost position. If you are down a rook but you have some tactics left, it is always good to play those tactics and see if your opponent falls to them. I call these 'hopemoves'! If you are down on material and you don't have any idea for these 'hopemoves' then you can resign.
So play your ideas and when they have run out resign.
Resign "lost endgames." Simple.
If the queens are still on the board, DON'T resign. Because a checkmate might still come "out of the blue."
Keep in mind that a 1-1/2 pawn material advantage (engine evaluation) is generally considered a "winning advantage," in most positions. When you have that advantage, tell yourself -- "I should win this game, if I don't get checkmated out of the blue."
And if you don't know what is a "lost endgame." Buy yourself a good endgame book, and study it. Then you will have a good idea of when your opponent "should resign."
But don't count on him doing it. 
kborg wrote:
Resign "lost endgames." Simple.
If the queens are still on the board, don't resign. Because a checkmate might still come "out of the blue."
Keep in mind that a 1-1/2 pawn material advantage is generally considered a "winning advantage," in most positions. When you have that advantage, tell yourself--"I should win this game, if I don't get checkmated out of the blue."
And if you don't know what is a "lost endgame." Buy yourself a good endgame book, and study it.
Then you will have a good idea of when your opponent "should resign."
What's 1/2 of a pawn?
johnanna wrote:
Don't resign on any terms other than your own. Don't feel bad or awkward playing every one of your games to the bitter end even when you know its hopeless. It is your choice too do otherwise.
IM Silman has excellent advice on this topic. He's part of the chess.com community, maybe he will share his thoughts?
A bunch of us witnessed this exact mindset a couple years ago at a tournament in Reno. King vs. King and rook endgame. The guy would not resign. He sat there for 5-6 minutes a move, basically long enough to make the time control and his opponent wait. Obviously it is right to play on, but what was wrong about it was that his opponent was in a tie for first, and im sure would have appreciated some rest before the last round. So after he checkmates his opponent, his opponent goes into the hallway and brags to some friends about how he made him wait so he couldnt unwind before the last round.
I think that is when its wrong to "play on til the end" It also shows a complete lack of respect for your opponent and the game.
If your opponent is Capablanca.
When should you resign, it seems I must be confused because always thought it was rude to quit on someone when they are wining a game. But it seems as if it is actually rude to keep playing. When should you resign against someone how for back should you when you do it.