e4

Here's an actual chat:

thufir: gl

thufir: do you not like kings pawn?

sakgreat: no like that

sakgreat has left the chat.

Ok, that was a rematch.  The first game this player aborted, I requested a rematch and tried the same first move.  That's two games in a row aborted by the same player.

This is not an unusual tactic.  A huge percentage of aborted games are aborted after e4, almost none if another opening.  That's just gaming the game.

Every game needs to have an outcome of win or lose.  If you've stepped away from the table, fine, automatic loss after a timeout.  Take it on the chin.

Incidentally, where is the button to report poor sportsmanship? 

When I was playing 1.Nf3, I thought people where aborting because of it, then when I played 1.f4, I thought people where aborting because of it, now when I play 1.e4 I know they're aborting just because they're nincompoops.

I do not understand why anyone would abort after 1. e4. Didn't Bobby Fisher call 1. e4 "best by test?" Seriously, if e4 frightens you, you might want to consider checkers!

 Kinda the point.  Obviously some people game the opening.  If they don't like the *first* move, they abort.  Some don't like e4, others abort after some other first move.  Why abort?  It's silly, but at least this character said he "no like that."  The jury is in, at least one person admits to gaming the opening.  I'm convinced he's representative of many more...

another game:  212654048

not that it's just that one game.  Usually I play on my android phone, so don't get a chance to track the game id's.

Well, I haven't thought about my opening move when someone aborted. I don't put much attention to it, but simply find it odd and then just start another game. But I have had a fun experience. I started a new game (blitz) and an opponent was automatically given to me. He aborted, so I just pressed "Start Game" again and the program picked the same opponent. He aborted. Once again I pressed "Start Game" and the program picked the same opponent who aborted again. I don't remember how many times the same opponent appeared, but it was indeed interesting.

I've seen the same behaviour.  It's a certain class of player gaming the game, so far as I can infer.  I do appreciate that actively pressing abort might (?) trigger a flag as abuse (it's small time abuse).

On the bigger general topic, why have an abort button?  If you don't have time to finish, then take the loss.  It seems like once you agree to figurately sit down to a game there should an outcome.  Or, at least require that, like a draw, both players agree.  Or, maybe even save the game for another time?  Easiest to simply remove that button, IMHO.

Thanks for confirming it's not just me who sees this sort of thing!  :)

You would think a game as sophisticated as Chess would weed out the virtual maruaders, but I guess not. I have had many people abandon a game when they tried the 3 move checkmate and realized it doesn't work on me. Yet, they have high ratings. So, just like e4 nf3 or 3 move mate, they abort, abandon, resign, etc. and move on to another player who plays the way they want them to play. That's how it seems to me, anyway. They're not serious chess players; just weak players who hunt for players they know they can beat. I, for one, do not like the Queen's side opening. It throws me; each and every time; and often results in a loss. (I need to study up on this opening to better understand the dynamics; not abort and pout because you're not playing right!)