azzaman333
meh
That's pretty much what I was hoping.
Plus, it's no fun to resign.
Plus, it's no fun to resign.
3rd Annual CFC Chess Tourney!!
- Thread starter Narz
- Start date
WhiteEagle22
Avatar of Justice
Even if you know the situation is hopeless?
azzaman333
meh
Depends how hopeless it is.
Lone Wolf
Deity
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2006
- Messages
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Chess.com forums have a constant pointless discussion of the "should you resign?" question. Usually it features one guy whose 2000+ opponent lost on time in a won position bragging about his impressive victory and presenting it as an example of why you should NEVER resign.
Its a personal decision.
For me, it depends on the quality of the oppo. I dont normally resign just because I'm a piece down in a middlegame with chances to complicate. I would resign in an ending a pawn down when its clear my oppo knows how to win it.
More difficult question - when do you offer a draw?
I've won two games recently after offering a draw and being turned down. Objectively my oppo should have accepted. I dont normally offer draws when I think I'm worse but when I think I'm a bit better but not enough to win. In both cases my oppos took risks to play for the win and lost. One outranked me, one didnt.
Tactical use of a draw offer, anyone?
For me, it depends on the quality of the oppo. I dont normally resign just because I'm a piece down in a middlegame with chances to complicate. I would resign in an ending a pawn down when its clear my oppo knows how to win it.
More difficult question - when do you offer a draw?
I've won two games recently after offering a draw and being turned down. Objectively my oppo should have accepted. I dont normally offer draws when I think I'm worse but when I think I'm a bit better but not enough to win. In both cases my oppos took risks to play for the win and lost. One outranked me, one didnt.
Tactical use of a draw offer, anyone?
A postal (or equivalent) game is much harder to come back from than an OTB game. In OTB I won't resign if I have realistic (though unlikely) chances.
Some examples of when I didn't resign a lost OTB position:
1) against another expert I botched the opening and lost a piece for two pawns. I then did everything I could and eventually reached a K+bcgh vs K+B+cg ending with his B stuck behind my bc pawns. I pushed the gh pawns until I could trade them for his g pawn and then moved my K, releasing his B, but allowing me to trade my bc pawns for his c pawn.
2) in a US Open I botched another opening against a C player and ended up in a two pawn down endgame with no real compensation. I declined his draw offer (figuring that he hadn't yet shown why his rating was only C) and outplayed the endgame to win it.
3) in a US Open I had a materially even but positionally zugzwangable game against IM John Donaldson. I mis-analyzed it and thought that it was a draw. When the IM (who was also in the USCF meetings and thus was burning the candle at both ends) proceeded to blow a tempo, the draw actually was there and I drew.
4) in dozens of other games I've played traps, swindles, apparently-ridiculous-but-actually-sound-sacs, etc. to secure either a draw or a win (occasionally the win is due to time pressure errors committed by opponents who didn't have any time pressure before I embarked on complications).
People often say that getting a winning position against me is one thing, but actually winning it is an additional task (unfortunately one that my opponent is up to more often than I'd like). Once all of the plausible attempts have been exhausted I'll finally resign, but I make sure that my opponent earned the win.
Some examples of when I didn't resign a lost OTB position:
1) against another expert I botched the opening and lost a piece for two pawns. I then did everything I could and eventually reached a K+bcgh vs K+B+cg ending with his B stuck behind my bc pawns. I pushed the gh pawns until I could trade them for his g pawn and then moved my K, releasing his B, but allowing me to trade my bc pawns for his c pawn.
2) in a US Open I botched another opening against a C player and ended up in a two pawn down endgame with no real compensation. I declined his draw offer (figuring that he hadn't yet shown why his rating was only C) and outplayed the endgame to win it.
3) in a US Open I had a materially even but positionally zugzwangable game against IM John Donaldson. I mis-analyzed it and thought that it was a draw. When the IM (who was also in the USCF meetings and thus was burning the candle at both ends) proceeded to blow a tempo, the draw actually was there and I drew.
4) in dozens of other games I've played traps, swindles, apparently-ridiculous-but-actually-sound-sacs, etc. to secure either a draw or a win (occasionally the win is due to time pressure errors committed by opponents who didn't have any time pressure before I embarked on complications).
People often say that getting a winning position against me is one thing, but actually winning it is an additional task (unfortunately one that my opponent is up to more often than I'd like). Once all of the plausible attempts have been exhausted I'll finally resign, but I make sure that my opponent earned the win.
Narz
keeping it real
In the US Open in philly I blew the opening & ended up a pawn down (& with isolated pawns & a doubled h-pawn to boot) in a wide-open position, seemingly a clear loss but my opponent played passively & I mustered all my strength & actually got a strong attack going but he got me with perpetual check & the game was drawn. Still a nice salvage though. 
WhiteEagle22
Avatar of Justice
I just lost to mowque. Nice game and congrats on beating me!
Narz
keeping it real
Unfortunately, no.
WhiteEagle22
Avatar of Justice
I'll try and finish my game as soon as I get my high-speed internet working. 
Narz
keeping it real
How are you on now? Dialup? Cell phone?
WhiteEagle22
Avatar of Justice
For that post, I was at the library on their public wifi. For this post, I'm finally on ADSL! woot! Great speed I say! 2.31MB/s dl and .08MB/s upload! woot! I'm officially back from chess vacation!
Narz
keeping it real
congrats
WhiteEagle22
Avatar of Justice
I think blogging about chess is a good way to stay out of hot water. Wouldn't you agree?
Wouldn't you agree?
WhiteEagle22
Avatar of Justice
I'm thinking I'm going to lose against loki130 in a couple of moves. Not too happy about my performance in this tourney. 
Narz
keeping it real
Courage Eagle, there was alot of tough competition in this event, even I didn't make the cut!
Sashie VII
Balance of Power
Courage Eagle. Courage for our friends (who didn't make it past the group stage).
WhiteEagle22
Avatar of Justice
I was hoping to win a game or two.
