lichess.org

There ought to be an "Unfinished" option of game resolution

This is a feature which ought to exist in a chess structure which relies on the internet to connect players.

It isn't needed IRL games; but only online games.

When I'm playing a game, and I'm losing, and the person "leaves" (maybe due to the fact that their computer crashed or something) I can wait for the time to run out, in which case they "lose" -- but this is unfair.

Or, I can claim a victory. One I might have earned, but one which I might not have. -- Also unfair.

Or, I can claim a draw. This is fairer, if I perceive myself to be losing. But it isn't entirely fair. A record of the games between myself and that person now suggest a draw which wasn't really earned by either of us.

It would be better to have another option. "Claim an Incomplete Game"

If my opponent is still "present" but hasn't moved for minutes and the time is running out; perhaps something happened IRL and they became distracted.

Any game which ends by a run-out of time ought to have the option for the other person to select "Unfinished".

These games can either be finished later, but there is no need for that.

In the record of the games between the two players, this game will not be a "0", nor will it be "1/2" it will be "-".

I think this is a good idea.

Anyone else?
I don't think the PGN would be able to record "unfinished"... so it'd confuse the computer.

Personally, I find that most people would claim victory whenever the opponent leaves, regardless of who's actually winning.

So, I don't think this button would be very useful, seeing [probably] the majority of the people won't use it.
The problem I see with this solution is that people can easily exploit the mechanic. If I'm starting to lose a game, I can just leave my computer and pretend like something has happened. The game is then counted as incomplete, and I don't lose.

The unfortunate fact that there are people that will constantly abuse a system like this means that a solution needs to account for it and make it impossible to do, which obviously is a much harder thing to figure out.

Personally I claim draws unless I'm in what I consider a guaranteed winning position, but there's nothing wrong with always claiming victories either. When I start a match, I'm essentially promising to myself and my opponent that I will remain in place and playing for the full duration of the game. If something happens and I'm forced to abandon the game, i forfeit. It is a loss for me and a win for my opponent. In the long run, losing one game because of a freak occurrence will not have a lasting effect on my rating or play history, nor will it my opponents. So if I'm only counting the very rare occasional abandonment as a loss it shouldn't damage me, but it does provide an incentive to not leave in the future. If I abuse the system, I just start losing all my games, so it doesn't work. If you find yourself constantly having to abandon games legitimately, and it is frequent enough to affect your rating, then you should reconsider when you choose to play and be more responsible with your time so it doesn't happen, because leaving a game is basically doing a disservice to your opponent.
> The problem I see with this solution is that people can easily exploit the mechanic. If I'm starting to lose a game, I can just leave my computer and pretend like something has happened. The game is then counted as incomplete, and I don't lose.

Not the way I meant to describe it.

I meant for it to be an *option* for the remaining player.

just like the option to "claim victory" and "claim draw", have a new option to "claim incomplete"
I don't see the point since you can claim a draw if being civil is the goal here.
A draw isn't unfair as whenever we play a game, we have the obligation to sit through it all or resign, personally i would claim victory 90% of the time.

and as mentioned by #3, few games shouldn't cause any effect in your rating/history.
I guess, what if a player wasn't concerned with their rating so much as with keeping a record of good games with various players.

What if you start playing games with the same player. and you keep the record of all those games.

Now the record is messed up by a draw or a win that wasn't really either.
I just played a game where the guy disappeared after clearly beating me.

There should be a "claim defeat" option as well.
Would anybody besides a handful of people even use it? I lose internet connection sometimes and nobody has ever, not even once, claimed a draw. It's either A) I can get back in time before it gives them an option or B) They claim victory.
Your idea works in theory but in practice? I'm not sure it being there would really make a difference. People don't care about what their ELO should actually be, they only want to have wins on their record.

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