Yet Another Chess Etiquette Thread

I have my own ideas about etiquette in the chat.

I nearly always greet my opponent at the start of the game, but I rarely say "good luck" to someone considerably higher rated than me. If anyone needs the luck in those situations, it certainly isn't my opponent!

Similarly, at the end of the game, I usually don't say "good game" to someone if I have beaten them, especially if it's due to an obvious blunder. I will thank them for playing, but I know that when I blunder away a hanging piece or something, it feels patronizing when my opponent chimes up "gg" at the end, when it was obviously exactly NOT a "gg".

During non-tournament games, I tend to be somewhat chatty, but if my opponent is obviously not, I stop. My chat is always friendly (*ahem*... ALMOST always) and usually about general chess, such as discussion of study or whatever; it is rarely about the game at hand unless my opponent breaches the subject first.

I am not offended if players don't respond to my initial greeting. In that case, my entire chat takes place "outside" of the game; a greeting at the beginning and a thanks at the end.

Frankly, I find this approach to be simple common sense, and I'm surprised at how often I see these threads filled with people who don't seem to get it.

That is all. Now back to your regularly scheduled mayhem.

Sensible but redundant. If anyone gets offended by someone saying good luck before a game then I really don't know what to say to them.

I'm not sure why chess players need guidelines on what to say/do. Are they that socially retarded?

Addendum: I do not expect others to follow this as a "code" or anything. I generally don't care what other players say to me. We all run into the occasional trash talker, but perhaps I am desensitized to it since I used to play a lot of blitz in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. If you aren't familiar with DC's vibrant chess scene, see this YouTube video. There is also a very brief Wikipedia article about Tom Murphy, one of the players in that game.

If you do a semiological analysis of the words then yes, neither "good luck" or "good game" have any meaning but you are totally missing the point.

According to your thinking every time someone says to me "break a leg" I should punch him.Why the hell does he wishes me to "break a leg".

A wish is only a wish and nothing more.

Good luck not necessarily means "have good luck to win the game because you ned it".It may means "good luck in having and nice fun and instructive game".It may means "hey it's only a game , let's have fun"

Good game doesn't necessarily means "good game".It may means "it was fun, I had a good time".Good game is not actually a game in which we played good , it may be a game in which we learned something and if you are from those that always seek improvement then any game , even the ones ending because of a horrible blunder , is a chance for improvement.Every game is a chance to get better , a chance to forget your other problems , a chance to have fun.So every game is a "good game".And when the game ends you say exactly that.That is what "good game" means.

Personally I necer say "Good luck" and "Good game" but the reason is exactly that.No one actually knows what "Good Luck" and "Good Game" means and many times a meanigless discussion starts:

Opponent:"I don't need luck to beat you?"

Me:           "Of course not , it is just a wish"

Opponent:"What meaning does your wish have then?"

Me:           "In  a wish the important is to have good intentions , the                           meaning may be different for everyone"

Opponent: "I don't need luck"

Me:          "Again , I never said you do" 

Opponent:"So why did you wish me "good luck"?"

Me:           "Nevermind :( "