GameKnot: Chess related, Why would a single Conditional Move offend someone?

Chess related: Why would a single Conditional Move offend someone?

From

Message

realdealblues
06-Aug-25, 12:31

Why would a single Conditional Move offend someone?

Is there something totally offensive about using a conditional move? I usually only play the same friend and occasionally a random person on here, but sometimes I'll join the GK tournaments just for fun. I recently started the latest one and am playing against a guy. We are 25 moves into the game and I was getting ready to go to a doctor's appointment and had him in check. He only had one good move so I put in a conditional move and went to my doctor's appointment. I come back to find a message stating something to the effect of "Oh, I'm not playing fast enough for you is that it?". I responded something to the effect of "By no means, I was just leaving for a doctor's appointment and since you were in check with one good move I put in a conditional move so you didn't have to wait for me, it had nothing to do with you". Since then his message is gone so I don't know if he erased it or put me on ignore but he hasn't made a move since. It was like I did something wrong and totally offended him to the point where he either is going to let the game time out or he won't make a move now unless he uses every minute of his 2 days, which is his right, but geez, I just don't get it. Has anyone else ever ran across something like this or know why that would have been so offensive?

myrydin
07-Aug-25, 06:48

I wouldn’t worry about it, everything you’ve explained here seems perfectly reasonable.

I believe there is a small handful of people here who are adamant in their own heads that someone playing a conditional move against them is a matter for taking offence. Some allow themselves to become psychologically flustered. They have merely chosen to take offence.

Conditional moves have always been a part of correspondence chess. The facility has been made available for players to use here on GK, so it could not be more straightforward that players absolutely have the right to use them.

euro_pop_legend
07-Aug-25, 08:11

Deleted by euro_pop_legend on 08-Aug-25, 04:53.

realdealblues
07-Aug-25, 11:50

Tim and Joe,
Thanks for the replies.

Yes Joe, you had the correct game and yes, I understand your psychological analysis of what actually triggered him.

I couldn't see his profile note as apparently he blocked/ignored me already and I didn't read it beforehand. I do see he's played 8,000 games and I'm guessing he must have a lot of people on his ignore list as so many people use conditional moves.

He actually let the game time out rather than play me. I honestly can't understand someone being so petty. Especially after my explanation and telling him to take all the time he wanted for moves. I've just personally never seen such poor sportsmanship in all the time I've been playing. I was just so bewildered by someone taking such offense.

euro_pop_legend
07-Aug-25, 12:23

Deleted by euro_pop_legend on 08-Aug-25, 04:53.

euro_pop_legend
07-Aug-25, 12:51

Deleted by euro_pop_legend on 08-Aug-25, 04:53.

realdealblues
07-Aug-25, 12:56

Joe, actually, I was playing Black and I was up 6 points. I had already won with White. I'm not sure why it paired me with him in the Tournament. The other guys are all around 2000 rating.

euro_pop_legend
07-Aug-25, 13:13

Deleted by euro_pop_legend on 07-Aug-25, 13:59.

myrydin
07-Aug-25, 13:32

No worries. It looks like it depends on where you access the game from, I knew realdealblues was playing as black and winning. Joe’s psychology feedback still seems spot on to me.

Btw I believe the GK tournaments allow lower rated players to contest the higher rated levels but not the other way around.

Tc, Tim.

euro_pop_legend
07-Aug-25, 14:13

Deleted by euro_pop_legend on 07-Aug-25, 14:21.

euro_pop_legend
07-Aug-25, 14:20

Deleted by euro_pop_legend on 08-Aug-25, 04:53.

« Back to forum