Am I a jerk?

lovlas, what is the lesson you want your pupils to learn from fully playing out games? Proper technique, resilience, focus? And what level do you consider the cut off point where they should resign?

I think it depends on the position; it's fine for going for a stalemate chance - but playing with king against king + rook is pointless

@Little_Bobby_Tables

I also feel that way; hate it when an opponent resigns a game I could have finished. I want that sense of satisfaction of pulling off a good checkmate.

You might be a jerk - if that is your life philosophy. But if you fight to the bitter end, that does not make you a bad person. It makes you a fighter, someone who does not roll over at the slightest disadvantage. Just because you are in a losing spot, doesn't mean you lost the game, your opponent will have to mate you. There is a huge psychological factor in chess, the opponent gaining advantage on you might get overly excited and make a mistake, equaling the odds again in your favor. That's why you fight to the end.

I think there's still something to be said (amongst stronger players in moderate time controls) about resigning when it's obviously called for rather than, for example, playing for a miracle stalemate.

Also, I still advocate take-backs (in anything other than bullet) FOR OBVIOUS MOUSE SLIPS. Blunders require no sympathy, obviously.

Well Im going to come out of the other side of the spectrum and say that I am a jerk because sometimes when I've played someone 300 or 400 points lower rated than me, and they have just the king to fend off my queen + whatever-material, and no danger at all to lose on time, I take them to mate in 1, hoping they see how lost the position is, and if they don't resign and I dont have anything better to do (its not a tournament) I let my time run out until the last few seconds and then I checkmate them.

I dont do it always (even if I am given the chance), but I think it does make me a jerk.

That indeed is a jerk move since it is pure waste of time. At least playing desperate moves is still playing. It's nothing malicious though so I can't judge you for having your fun.

I think the most important part of not resigning is that your opponent might make a stupid mistake. They might blunder or stalemate you or something. Of course the chance of this drasticaly decreases when the opponents gets better.

@26: It means you're a dick, grow up you loser.

#29 xkcdftw