Sportsmanship can be shown long before the traditional "good game, congratulations". During the entire game you can show respect for your opponent and the game of Chess in general by treating the contest not as the end of the world, but as a test between possible good friends over a game they both love. An in-game comment of "good play" or "this is a tough position" sets the mood for a friendly and sportsman-like game.
At the end of each game the pieces reset or go back into the box. You smile over the victory or try to learn from the loss. You order another round and toast the guy who happened to win this time.
Originally posted by MontyMooseWell said!!!
Sportsmanship can be shown long before the traditional "good game, congratulations". During the entire game you can show respect for your opponent and the game of Chess in general by treating the contest not as the end of the world, but as a test between possible good friends over a game they both love. An in-game comment of "good play" or "this is a toug ...[text shortened]... rn from the loss. You order another round and toast the guy who happened to win this time.
Originally posted by MontyMooseEh, I like to think of myself as a good sportsman, but an in-game comment in an OTB tournament game would annoy the hell out of me. Especially if the position is actually tough. =P
Sportsmanship can be shown long before the traditional "good game, congratulations". During the entire game you can show respect for your opponent and the game of Chess in general by treating the contest not as the end of the world, but as a test between possible good friends over a game they both love. An in-game comment of "good play" or "this is a toug ...[text shortened]... rn from the loss. You order another round and toast the guy who happened to win this time.
Originally posted by Heroic Metoolagreed, i was about to write something near this (but with spelling errors)
Eh, I like to think of myself as a good sportsman, but an in-game comment in an OTB tournament game would annoy the hell out of me. Especially if the position is actually tough. =P
its a poor sport to talk, mumble, or do any distracting stuff during a game..
ive only been to an OTB USCF a few times, but the 1st time an older player was playing a criminal looking guy, .. the older guy was commenting to himself and the other guy yelled KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!! ðŸ˜
i nearly poohd myself 😞
theres a bunch of cheap tricks, including deep breathing..
Originally posted by Heroic MetoolI agree that one should never speak to their opponent in a tournament game except to say "adjust", to resign, to offer a draw, or to accept or decline a draw offer.
Eh, I like to think of myself as a good sportsman, but an in-game comment in an OTB tournament game would annoy the hell out of me. Especially if the position is actually tough. =P
I may forget occasionally, but I have tried to make a habit of always messaging opponenets on this site with "Hello and good game to you." or something to that effect upon my first move.
Interesting how many don't respond- OK, so people are here to play chess and not chat during games, but I tend to consider it a form of online pre-game handshake.
I would NEVER not offer or accept a handshake before or after an OTB game, win or lose.
As a teacher, I'm the sponser of my high school's chess club. Poor sportsmanship and good manners are a big issue with me, as a teacher and chess advisor, especially when dealing with teenagers- half the kids I teach won't say please or thank you for anything. During a recent blitz tournament, a "better" player commented that the move his opponent had just made was stupid as he recaptured. Given I was right there and heard it, I stopped the clock and awarded the game to his opponent, citing the code of conduct outlined in our tournament rules. He was pissed, but I REALLY don't want people developing and perpetuating attitudes like that in my classroom.
in 75 percent of my games I always open with some form of "good luck enjoy the tourney" or just "good luck" and I get a reply about 2 out of ten times, I am not offended by people who dont respond, I know some do not wish to say anything at all, I also dont mind a chat while I play regardless of whether I am winning or losing, as long as it is obvious rude goading from my opponent (as yet I have not experienced that here).
I try to be friendly, its just a game, a game of which I will never be good enough to take so seriously that I wish to hold my opponent in contempt, of course I dont like losing and sometimes my losses are embarrasing but I usually say good game or well played or similar.
The times I dont it is because I genuinely forgot or on a couple of occasions I have been annoyed with my opponent for fairly minor things like leaving every single move to the very last 20 minutes of their time, and another occasion an opponent did not respond to my greeting and then decided to send an email reminder nearly every move as soon as the little symbol came up despite me never going into the last day of my time on any move!
Little tiny things like that tend to annoy me more than a player who does not respond to a greeting.
I am not sure a player should forfeit a game really for not shaking hands, I think that is going a little far, I agree it is rude and arrogant but players who do this get a bad name for themselves as unsporting, I think personally the reputation they gain for themselves is enough of a negative come back than to lose a game.
EDIT
I should point out that when I said I enjoy a chat, its not usually OTB, I dont like to be distracted too much in OTB so would rather not chat unless it is a friend