"Good Game" or GG is not a compliment.

When someone says "gg" it is rather rude to say "thx" back. The polite reply is to return the "gg." The term is NOT a compliment. It means "that was an enjoyable game." It expresses sportsmanship, especially upon losing. OTB I have never heard anyone return "good game" with "thanks."

It makes me wonder why people do it here on chess.com. It might have to do with the fact that (being an expression of sportsmanship) it is often offered by the losing party. If someone is not really all that interested in sportsmanship or if they are unfamiliar with the use of the term--perhaps English is a second language-- then they might come to think that gg is a compliment because the truly sportsmanlike players usually offer it when they lose. I made this post to set the record straight and/or see if this bugs anybody else.

"Well played" is a different story. There is a compliment imbedded in the statement, and "thanks" is a polite reply to that.

The ONLY place "gg" and Good Game" is frowned upon is online.  Its is commonly done and responded to positively in OTB play.  

Why do you think "thanks" is a reply to "gg"? It is a very common and polite practice to thank the opponent for a game both in OTB and online games regardless of whether the game played was a good or a bad one. "gg" is not a question so "thanks" probably has nothing to do with what the opponent may have just said or if he has even said anything. I believe "thanks" is even more common and more polite than "gg", at least everybody knows what it means.

Good post.

GP?

I believe this because it often directly follows me saying "gg." Let's ay that I win two games against someone but I lose the third. The person says nothing in chat for the first two games, then on the third (when I lose) I say "gg" and they say thanks. It happens all the time, and it gives me the distinct impression that some folks think that gg is a compliment. I rarely, if ever, just get "thx" from an opponent when I haven't said gg. In fact, I cannot recall a single instance. I might have heard "Thanks for the game," but there is no ambiguity as to what that means.

If you've already played two games with someone and neither of you has chatted, maybe they are focusing on the game and you could be the one to break the ice.

Personally, gg and whatever the response is doesn't bother me; that's about all I gotta say about that

I have no trouble with someone saying, "thanks" to my "GG."  I don't do it when my opponent has played poorly - in that case I may wish them good games in the future.

Just offer to shake their hand.  >.>

So is it OK to say gg or not?

I'm not really bothered about it. Hell, my opponents can call me a gay "looser" after the game (which, believe it or not, has happened more than once on chess.com) and it doesn't really bother me. I'm not offended or anything... just pointing out a misconception. Say thanks to my gg all day-- I don't care. It's just a misunderstanding of the term, that's all.

In my opinion "Thanks" is an adequate answer to "Good game". Usually I just get those "good game"'s after a bad game which I lost due to some horrible blunders. So compared to the more suitable "Are you kidding?", "Thanks" is actually quite polite.

I appreciate the discussion about etiquette. I'm sure I've responded inappropriately at one time or another. However, I always appreciate the game, and whether I win or lose. (The latter being more common.) Thanks, Dillon108. Next time I'll give you a better game. What if I responded with "Cheers" - ?

You declare that "good game" is not a compliment.  It's not necessarily a compliment but it may be.  It depends.  What if your opponent says it not just because he's a good sport but because he thinks it was a well played game by both sides?  If he means that, he is complimenting you.  You won the game despite his good play.  But you're also assuming that if you say "good game" and your opponent responds, "thanks," that he's necessarily thanking you for a compliment.  He might be thanking you for being gracious in defeat. 

Is "indeed" a good answer to "good game"?

I struggle to understand the kind of mind that can find insult or discourtesy in even the simplest and most casual remarks. Who the hell cares if someone replies "THX" when you say "GG?" There's an obsessive desire to be offended at work there 

I have never had anyone say "thanks" when I say "gg" at the end of a game. Although Chess.com usually doesn't put me up against English speakers so that could be why they don't respond.

No but it's a good bump.