I think that this is because games are not broadcast live at that level. If there is a livestream, or even if there is talk about a certain player doing idiotic things like that, their reputation would probably be ruined when it gets publicised.

trw wrote on 10/08/19 at 01:37:24:


Well if those players who let their flag fall go on to become coaches when they get older, maybe.

I remember as a teenager I had an acquaintance who when completely lost would not only let his time go down, but would also offer draws every single move in his lost position. I once asked him, "What the hell is wrong with you, why do you do this to your opponents," and he responded, "Well, it is legal to do so..."

This is not the first post where I have tried to impute rational behavior when maybe there was none. I make this mistake in real life as well.

On lichess.com there are some topics about this. As I reduced my chess there to rapid games it happens less often and you can claim a win after two minutes.

As I am used to make me a cup of tea I can use this time. If the tea is ready and this happens I check my emails and mark where to answer. Bad zen.

Only one opponent actually tried to 'flag' me, against the others I would mostly win lots of bits fairly quickly (in less than one minute), and then they would simply let their time run out. Do they get some sort of pleasure out of this?
Yes, I guess I should register, get my rating up and then play better players who know when to resign (?!)

It's very normal, Tony.  I've easily dropped 100 rating points in a day when I don't feel like blitzing out finishes, and everyone insists on flagging me when down multiple pieces, etc.  It happens all the time if I play on my mobile phone (far slower to move than with a mouse), or when I have a poor and laggy internet connection. 

Funnily enough, I think that it happens more when I play with my main account on chess.com, because it says "NM" (for National Master), and people want to beat a "titled" player.  Sometimes, people will even trash talk when they're able to achieve a draw when I can't mate in time against a lone king, for instance.  It's really a cesspool, mostly.   

I sometimes play unrated games because of this, and they seem a little more sporting.  Mostly I've been avoiding online blitz play these days, because it just puts me in a bad mood when I lose due to a poor connection, etc., which happens all the time when I play on my work's WiFi at lunch time, for instance.

GMTonyKosten wrote on 10/07/19 at 14:25:07:


If you play anonymously, i.e. against unregistered users, this is "normal".

It's much rarer with a registered (rated) account, but still does happen. (Even if the sites penalize for it)

I decided to play some blitz games anonymously online the other day, mostly against very weak players, and I was surprised that almost none of them resigned - at least two thirds just let their time run out rather than resign! Is this normal?