Lose on disconnect option

Is there any way that we could get a Live Chess option to play games in which a player loses automatically if they disconnect? Obviously it would be completely optional so anyone using it couldn't complain that their Internet went out and caused them to lose a game. You could also play rated games using this since, again, both people agreed to use it just like they agreed to the time controls.

It seems like it would be a great way to avoid those many, many people who either disconnect when losing or, even worse, disconnect then attempt to reconnect before the server "times them out" in hopes that you have AFK'd/Alt-Tabbed while waiting for that to happen.

I'd bet big money that the vast majority of players that disconnect during live Chess games do so voluntarily, not because of some computer problem.

I know that this problem has already been discussed ad nauseam on a multitude of threads, but I just wanted to suggest this (even though it's probably pointless to do so anyway).

You're right it is pointless to discuss this instead of just contacting the staff directly with whatever suggestion you have here. BTW have you read the existing policy as stated in Help & Support? Pls spare me the righteous indignation in case you have, but a lot of members would never dream of doing so thus I was just wondering if you did or not

BTW how can you be so sure the "vast majority of players that disconnect during live chess do so voluntarily"  are you familiar with ISP coverage everywhere from Albania to Zimbabwe? Because not all unintentional disconnects are due to "PC problems" unless by this you also mean  problems with ISPs, servers, chess.com and problems with applications for various devices such as phones etc.

Sorry, I misread this forum heading, because for some strange reason I thought that:

Get the latest site news and feedback from Chess.com and discuss what's happening on your favorite chess website!

...for some reason meant that this category was to discuss things about Chess.com. I see now that there is a proper Suggestions forum...that's my mistake, I didn't scroll down far enough.

You're right, a lot of members would never dream of doing such a thing as disconnecting from a game intentionally. I never suggested otherwise in my post, maybe you should read it again (oops, was that some of my righteous indignation peeking through? ). In fact, my suggestion is a request for an option to play with these like-minded individuals who actually have the modicum of honor required to complete an anonymous online chess game - a group of which I have no doubt that you are also a member. Is it too much to ask to have an option to do so? Apparently, it is and I regretted my decision almost as soon as I hit the "Post Comment" button as I knew with almost absolute certainty that someone was going to come to deliver a rather useless post that actually made no relevant comments whatsoever on the actual suggestion I made.

As for the "how can you be so sure" statement, well, obviously we can't be too sure of anything in this life, but I can tell you that in approximately 2000 games that I have played in Live Chess (not a huge sample size, I know) I have never not once, not one time had someone disconnect when they were winning. Of course, I can't count the times someone disconnected right after they blundered their queen or a piece, or were facing a mate in 1 - but trust me, it wasn't just a handful of occurrences.

And yes, for the record by "PC problems" I thought that it was apparent that I meant "technical issues/Internet outages/software crashes/forgot to pay the power bill/solar flares/acts of God/meteor strikes/alien invasion/etc." - I should have been more clear on that, my apologies.

In the end, one thing I can say that you are 100% right about is this:

You're right it is pointless to discuss this instead of just contacting the staff directly with whatever suggestion you have here.

It was completely foolish of me to expect any kind of real discussion of the contents of my post. I will make every attempt to avoid holding such strikingly impossible expectations in the future.

Best regards,

I don't know why you got so assertive with this guy. He was just posting partial facts that if someone disconnects, it might be internet problems. The majority of the people on chess.com do not have "perfect" internet. I personally think that a person should auto-lose in a minute as if they do not connect by then, either they "raged" or their internet is down enough that they would lose on time anyway.

@ valymer     After reading you last post I feel a tad abashed, however I've seen a lot of complaints about the live chess forfeit policy both ways ie some people don't like the auto forfeit feature because it doesn't take any reasons for disconnects into account. And in a lot of other discussions on rules and policies here it's sometimes (often?) obvious the poster is not familiar with the current rules/policies.

So anyways, don't let "wannabe trolls" (sic - I hope!) like me discourage you from posting stuff, it's obvious you have thought this thru and the only way to find out what others think is to post your own thoughts on whatever you're concerned with or interested in here.

PS: Yeah you probably should specify what "PC" problems means at least for blockheads like me

If your connection deteriorates during a game it often helps to refresh the live chess page. Technically, this is a disconnect on your side. But this is a lot better than waiting for the server to disconnect/reconnect you which causes endless troubles, there are plenty of forum posts about it.

So I think the auto loss on disconnect is no option for all mobile users.

WEL COME

Well,

Some of us Geniuses play chess also during work to refocus on tasks in real life (it helps, me at least!).

The unlucky ones receive an important phone call, a rare but possible event, and loose precious time on the chess board, or lose the game when time runs out…

I don't mind losing a game or two because of that. Fortunately, the Online Chess games keep me happy J

This is ridiculous. I have had several games here where I have been "disconnected" for less than five seconds. For that to result in a loss would be absolutely absurd. What I would support is an option where the server never times them out, and they lose by running out of time on the clock.

Then comes the times when I'm playing a online chess game here with time controls of 30+ minutes and my computer decides it wants to update. I'm surely not getting back on in five minutes. I could have a chance to get back on and just lose 10 minutes of clock time, but of course the server aborts the entire game.

Yet, you want me to lose the instant I get disconnected? Now you can speak latin all you want, but losing instantly you "disconnect" is redonkulous. Sometimes you "disconect" because chess.com wants you to. If this option becomes availaible there'll be conspiracy theories of how chess.com is out to get someone by a disconnect of a second that they'll claim was chess.com's plan all along. More bad will come out of this than good. I highly discourage making this option available, and would advise everybody against using this manipulative option should chess.com go down a path of idiocy.

an instant loss is absurd

I would like it reduced to 30 seconds lose the game if disconnected. If I disconnect, rarely as luckily we have quality internet Im back on in seconds. Same with other people who are playing in good faith even in India where the internet coverage may be patchy and many players are from there, they are back on in short order.

I have never had a player disconnect and not return to the game if he has been beating me, only when Ive got somebody on the ropes do they leave me sitting like a lemon for two minutes which is an eternity in live chess. The rating system should also be beefed up, penalties of -20 instead of 6 or 7 for disconnects.

Chess is a game of honour and should be played that way.

one of the other issues is thiat in comparison to other sites, chess.com live chess is run directrly through their server, i.e. more lag problems/more disconnect issues. It would prevent way too many people from playing on here.