Why is aborting allowed?

It seems like 60% of my answered seeks get aborted. I just don't understand why this is allowed - or at least with rules as loose as they are.

I particularly dislike it when they wait to see my first move as white, and THEN decide to abort. How is this fair? They get to decide, as black, which opening move they will face?

Also, if you can edit the range of ratings, there should be no reason to refuse a match based on rating differences.

Anyways, this is very frustrating for me. I play on ICC as well, and there are no aborts there without mutual consent, so maybe its just what I'm used to that is coming into play. But I think due to the quantity of aborts I'm getting, there's got to be something wrong with the system.

And no, to pre-emptively answer some replies - I'm not rude in chat (I typically just get down to business, to be honest), and I never abort/DC/run clocks on anyone - though my opponents tend to do these things to me more often than I'd like.

Anyways, just thought I'd share my thoughts and frustrations with this topic.

Take care,
Justin (mrsuitcase)

I only use abort if my opponent doesn't want to make a first move. Since the clocks don't start until after that it is a needed function. Are you sure it doesn't only seem like more because it frustrates you so those times are what you keep in mind? I rarely get aborts in live chess.

(see 'Eliminate the abort option' - ekorbdal)

Black should'nt be able to abort after whites first move.

I've been reading more about the "pros" and "cons" of aborting.  I still don't like it, and I think its unfair.

But, I think the "feature" can be preserved if there were more controls around it.  E.g.  Once matched, both sides could need to click "ready" to start the game, but only prior to any moves being made.  That way Black isn't given choice of white's first move (via aborting until he finds the one he likes).  I'd even go so far as to say this needing to click "ready" should only be available if one of the two players has been in the queue for longer than 1 minute to prevent abuse... (what? you did a seek, and were matched in 2 seconds and you want the ability to abort because you left your computer?  RRRRRIGHT!).

For those who don't like waiting for white's first move - easy - start the clock immediately after matching, with the exception mentioned above (must click "ready" if one side has been waiting > some number of seconds/minutes).

For those seeking to play only one side of the board (e.g. only white, or only black), or only a particular opening, do seeks allow for these options?  If not, these options should be implemented.  Then your opponent can decide if he's willing to play as black, simply because you chose white, or if he's willing to play after the first 5 moves of the King's Gambit accepted.  And your opponent can decide if he wants to play a rated game under those conditions.

With those options, you can have all games "binding" and fair, and address the underlying reasons of those who argue they still need this feature.

Just my 2 cents.

Well, the Court says its a privacy issue.

Wait... are we talking about chess here?

I think the pre-move ready is a good idea. With aborting only allowed in that stage you would get the benefits of abort without some drawbacks. Having the ready button before you know what color you are would be nice too.

Having the ready button before you know what color you are would be nice too.

Essential if any new system is to stymie the wussies who can't handle playing black.

We play on this site for fun.... Sometimes i am in the mood for an open battle so I am looking to play e4 or against e4... If they play d4, i will abort... I see nothing wrong in this...I dont care even if I am penalised rating points... i dont want to waste time playing a game i dont want to play.

You should care for your opponent, it is called "respect".

Do you have any idea what a "community" means? I think you should only be allowed to play chess alone. Because that's the only type of playing that can explain your rationale.

I get the whole, "community" argument and that games shouldn't be resigned based on opening moves. I agree with that. But don't knock the guy for not wanting to waste his time playing a long drawn-out game sometimes that goes nowhere in 30 minutes. Granted you could just do what I do and play e5 regardless or the Albin or something sharp. But you can't argue that d4 does sometimes lead to long positionally slow games; and not everyone wants to spend their time playing those types of games.

Really? Have you ever tried playing longer games on here sometimes? Along with the die-hard no-resigners 15 minute games can go on for quite a while. Sometimes you don't want to do a slow positional grind. Hence aborting is easy, and just find another person who is willing to play something a little more lively.  Bullet or blitz on the other hand opening choices don't matter much because games generally end pretty quickly, but I don't want to spend all day sometimes playing a slow half hour drawn game for 3 points. That's just not fun at all. So yea, I sort of agree with that guy.

I agree that the abort button can be abused but it may I believe be used legitimately. I've said it on this site before and I don't care if I say it again! I wish to play (a) one opponent at a tme and (b) alternatively black then white and so forth as you would in a championship game. If after finishing a game playing black, I then wish to play white, which means using the abort button INSTANTLY about 50% of the time.

I WOULD LOVE NEVER TO HAVE TO USE IT BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE!

There's an option I've noticed that you should consider - you can select your color for a live game - use it - don't use "random". You just waste other people's time.

You should be matched against someone like-minded who chose the opposite color.

Just play what game you are given. You will end up playing each side pretty much equally. It is more considerate to other people. I can see aborting if it is your 5th black game in a row or something but wanting to alternate can be annoying to others.

Not everyone knows about the way you can use the filter system to restict it to time limits and rating limits you want. 

I only use the abort if the opponent is taking too long to take their first move. 

So in my opinion it is needed. 

Stop playing chess..? Please leave this site..? Whoa... who gave you the right to dictate what others want to do.

I dont see whats there to crib about this abort game thing... its just silly.

 I am pretty clear with my rationale and I dont need you to analyse it...This is what a community is i guess where people like you will start lecturing others at any given opportunity. So yes, I dont care about your community and will enjoy playing chess the way i want it... Ciao.

 I've aborted a few games when I realized the list refreshed as I was clicking the game I wanted, and it gave me a different game. I don't want to play a 5 minute game against a player 600 points above me, forgive me.