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When is the time right to resign?

Resigning is a sign of respect to your opponent, giving up when you know you are beat. When do you resign during a game? How much do you have to be down by to surrender?

I have played OTB against people who resign when they are down a piece to 2 pawns, and against people who never give up even though they are a queen or more down.

For me I resign when I am down by more than 3 points without compensation. Do you think this is too early or too late? If you do, when do you resign?
Never. I don't give up. I have won a game when at one point I was a queen down. My opponent resigned when they were still a piece up, but anyway, you can still save that sort of position.
If you keep playing, you can try for stalemate, or even win!
It's not really how much you're down, but more about how little time does your opp have?
If your opponent is low on time, rushing his moves, play on for stalemate.
If he has enough time it's just insulting.
Its very disrespectful to play on in a completely won position with no tricks when your opponent has time.

Why in the world would you make someone that is at least decent play out a queen and king vs king endgame when both sides have 30 minutes.
It can be argued almost any way. I don't resign, like Mathmagician. But there are sometimes you do resign. Those are very rare though. As in when both you are sick or need to get off/go soon. If not, you probably shouldn't resign. There is always that small chance.
Oh and by the way, I don't resign in bullet and usually not in blitz. Classical and correspondence I feel like is better to move on and look back at my mistakes.
Definition of resign: Give up the position.

If your going to resign, better be convinced that your opponent can handle the position.
Imagine reviewing your game, and discovering you should have played on.

The game is a wrestle of the minds. Do you really believe your opponent is perfect? If so, resign; If not play on. Then again, you can always admit to your first mistake and resign your game early.

How about the golden rule of leading by example and respecting your opponent by giving your best.
Wrestle for that win and don't bear a grudge against an opponent that did not resign. They were probably only doing their best, in hope of a favorable horizon. When you have the initiative, put in the effort to checkmate and do not expect an opponent to give-up so easily. Demonstrate some empathy toward your opponent and finish the game.

The moral of the story: A humble chess player, will know how to end a game respectfully.

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