Note: This is not professional chess, but amateur chess-play experience shared by the writer.
To Begin With
In fact, don’t play one single move on a whim. Chess is not for one second meant to be whimsical with. Either you play or you learn or you do both simultaneously!
A Common Situation
You and your opponent have been equal in material count as well as position.
Until that one move!
Maybe you blundered your queen or rook or gave up a bishop or knight for nothing!
Let’s say it was the 10th or the 15th move, transitioning from opening to middlegame. That means, most of the game is still to play. But now you have to play that remainder being a queen or a bishop down.
Question
Would you resign or continue?
If your answer is the latter, let’s connect in comments without reading further!
If your answer is the former, this article is for you!
Easier to do it Online than Over-the-Board
Where you don’t have to show your face! They play well, but their habit of resigning on a whim – right after one material loss, keeps them away from learning as well as rating progress.
When playing over-the-board, this is very rare because of the physical presence of the players. Thusly, a significant amount of each game happens even with highly unequal or unbalanced positions.
My Playing and Bettering Self
Be it over-the-board or online, I don’t resign unless I have to avoid being checkmated (often I miss that too.)! But I am not embarrassed to admit that I did it for some time playing online. I used to resign right after I lost material or worsened my position.
After resigning, I realized I hated it and changed my habit. Now I focus on the learning aspect, and use the chance to see how I do with odds. Here’s hoping others can change too, so they can learn more as well as better themselves playing with odds.
I have no excuses for those defeats of mine. I did not just get beaten; I accepted it all earlier than reality! I called for my own fall earlier than it was for real. I kept myself from learnings and from exploring my capabilities (seeing how I do with odds).
As well, I lost significantly ratings as a consequence, and that’s even more reminder of how pathetic this habit is.
My Answer
Which is a return question!
“Why should I resign right away?”
Firstly, winning in chess depends less on material count and more on positioning.
Secondly, later in the game, my opponent may blunder as well, or play worse than me.
Thirdly, as I don’t care about my opponent more than what I do, but what if I can outplay my opponent even with playing odds? [ Personally, that’s basically my first point! :wink: :sunglasses: ]
So, what if you lost material abruptly in the beginning or in the middle? What if you have worsened your position for the remainder of the game? These are not enough to determine the outcome of the game, thusly resigning the game right away will be unsmart!
What are You Doing to Yourself
If you resign early using such lame excuses, you are stopping yourself from learning more about the game.
You are as well cutting yourself off from the chance to experience a possible turnaround!
What can You Do Instead
In case you have taken a terrible hit early or in midgame, take the rest of the game as a new challenge!
It will be like you playing with odds and still trying to win. In many cases, you will really win.
Even if you lose, you take more learnings home if you finish the game.
Look out for hidden opportunities, counterplay, positional hold and endgame tricks that can turn the tide. Stay resilient, have patience, calculate deeply, and fight until the end.
Next time after you have lost material or worsened position and are feeling like wanting to resign, do this:
Take a deep breath and collect yourself to launch your everything to see till the end of the game. Hinge on to your creative abilities. Process out your emotions, channelize them towards sustaining focus. Keep up with the aim to win. In case that’s not possible, go for a repetitive draw or stalemate.
Don’t resign on a whim, play the full game. You should resign right before checkmate – that totally makes sense that you have avoided getting mated. But unless you are there, you must continue playing the game.
In the process, your brain will get a full workout, and your older self will thank you!
Last but Not the Least
Chess is a game of wit; it is a game of honor. If you lose a game, it does not mean you are unintelligent – even grandmasters get beaten by children. But if you play bad chess, like resigning on a whim – you display poor character. There is no honor in accepting defeat before really losing.
Conclusion
Don’t resign on a whim! Don’t play bad chess! Challenge yourself to play with odds and focus on the learning experience after you’ve lost material. Either you win or you learn, but you will have played chess with honor! Great players win lost games by never giving up too soon. Keep playing – you will surprise yourself!
-x-
Writer’s Inspiration: I wanted to address a common bad habit among many chess players, and remind them that they can change for the better.
What’s one bad habit you have rectified to improve in chess? Share in comments!
Do you play hope chess? Then Don’t Play Hope Chess.
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About the Writer: He is a professional writer and a passionate student of chess.
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