PLayers abandoning lost games

I just started playing online a few weeks ago.  I'm really enjoying it, but I have come across one thing that is very annoying.  Some players simply stop playing and let the clock run out if they are in a losing position.  This happens fairly frequently.   I wish they would have the courtesy to resign if they don't plan to finish the game.  I guess there are jerks everywhere.

Take some tea and relax is my solution!  The game will end, soon or late.

And it will be a win, so just take your time.

WB

Happens in turn-based too.

I've seen this too.

Sometimes they even disconnect but pop back in to see if you've quit yet !

Recently one player, who'd pushed me for a "friendship", disconnected but I could see they were logging in & out !!

I'ts true one can wait it out but it's a terrible waste of time---& the amount of time it takes for the game to be declared abandoned seems to be inconsistent.

Thanks for your input.

Yes. Sometimes the game is declared abandoned after a few minutes, but sometimes it continues until the player's clock runs down to zero.  I suspect that the game is declared abandoned if the player has disconnected for more than a certain amount of time.  I think that if the player stays connected, the game will not be declared abandoned and will continue until his clock runs out.

Several times I have had a player request a draw in a hopelessly lost position.  I on;ly agree to a draw if it makes sense.  After I declined the draw, the other player let his clock run out without moving.  In one instance, the clock ran for over twenty minutes.  It's too bad that these players aren't courteous enough to resign in a hopelessly lost game, or to at least play it out until they are checkmated.  I suppose they are trying to gain ratings points by requesting a draw rather than take a loss.  How pathetic.

we should be able to report game "abandoners" and they should have their accounts reviewed by chess.com. I bet its the same bad loosers doing it over and over. It should be part of the fair play policy.

most of my live chess wins are on time and most of my losses are on time.  so maybe you think you have it in the bag but your opponent is trying to figure a way out.  

Thanks for the comments.  I have actually noted in a spreadsheet, the names of a few players who let the clock run down to zero when they were in an obviously lost position and a significant amount of time was left on the clock.  The most offensive are the players who asked for a draw and then let the clock run out after the draw was declined.  If I realize who they are before I start a game, I will abort the game.

I would love to have chess.com restrict these players but I don't know how this would happen.  It would not be practical for them to take one player's word that another player should be restricted, as it is possible that one player could have a grudge against another player for a reason that is not valid.

You can also block players - here's this from the Help section:

"Finally, we also give you the option to block individual members entirely. Blocking someone means that you will not be paired with them in open challenges. They will not be able to send you messages, leave notes on your profile, or chat with you in Live Chess. Basically, they will have no way of contacting you on the site.

Blocking people is easy - just add them to your blocked list on your Account > Privacy Settings page.

We hope these tools will help you simply ignore the occasional "bad apple."  However, if you would like to report a repeat offender or somebody that we should watch carefully, then please submit an Abuse Report."

Excellent. Thank you for the information. I will block the players who have used these offensive tactics.

Yes, abandoning a game can occasionally be due to unforseen circumstances. It is pretty obvious what is going on, however, when a player in a hopelessly lost position asks for a draw and then lets the clock run out if the draw is declined.

A player abandoning a game is not too much of a problem. If the disconnection goes on for two minutes the gane is aborted and that player takes a loss. The problem is when a player remains connected and lets their clock run down to zero. Some players simply stop playing when in a lost position. They do this even if most of the time is left on their clock. These players are not thinking longer. They are punishing their opponent for defeating them.

I have only had that happen a couple of times.I found out to be careful with the moving of pieces,as if your finger slips on the mouse,you can pay dearly.I lost a won game to a higher rated player,when I goofed up!

I'm waiting for my opponent to move right now. This player's position is beyond hopeless, and his/her king is in check with only one move is available. This is very frustrating as he abandoned the game with 25 minutes left on the clock. There should be a time limit for a single move. I don't think a 10 minutes limit is unreasonable... especially when you only have one possible move.... I should have guessed that he/she (probably a he) was a sore loser; the first thing he/she stated in chat was "sorry you are going to lose." 

At least I can feel good about destroying his/her pathetic opening strategy.

tgvmanian has just done it to me now. Name and shame? Nah - they are shameless. I propose that they adopt time rules in live chess: say 5 minutes no move and you are out for a 10 - 15 min game (I am being a little self interested here as I usually only play standard but the algorithms could be set for any live games). Maybe 7 mins for a 15-20 minute game and so forth. If everyone knows that they have to move within a certain time then it should work ok. Or maybe there could be a warning button beside resign and draw that was called "time" and that then starts a countdown that the other player can see. It could be generous like 3 mins or 5 etc. It would sure be nice to not deal with these miscreants who, as some one on this thread already said, punish the victor for winning.

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 yes I agree, extra caution should be taken to ensure that the arrow cursor is not near the submit button so that such chances are elimiated.

If you allow premove on your live chess, and they only have one choice, you can preplay the move so you can leave without worrying about your own time.

Unreasonable offers of a draw is against the laws of chess.  (Law 12.6 if you were wondering.) 

The opponent disconnecting from the computer, is the same as in an OTB tournament as your opponent walking out of the room!  It wouldn't be allowed in an OTB tournament. 

If they let the clock run out they are "flagged" for "possibly" violating the Fairness Policy. If they get flagged several times they are banned from playing live chess for some period of time.

There does seem to be a time limit.  I had a player (Jli1997) abandon a game a few moments ago.  After facing an obviously losing situation, the individual simply stopped playing.  When I told them to show a little class, the individual simply replied, "haha".  I figured I would have to wait out the full 22 minutes remaining on their clock, but at 14:10 remaining the system seemingly declared it a resignation.  I doubt the player resigned, because the system noted that the individual may have violated the fair play policy.  Good to know that there are checks and balances in the system.  Also appreciate the tip on blocking an individual.  Jli1997 is now dead to me.  =)

My solution to this problem is to play another game simultaneously to avoid the annoying waiting, and to further be preoccupied with another game.