takebacks • page 1/3 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

hello Lichess users.
lately i face too many players asking for a takeback during a rated game, and usually i don't mind.
but when i ask one back, they refuse.
i have started to ask players, before the first move, if they play with or without playbacks.
not all of them answer.

maybe there should be a solution in the form of a new feature - "Takeback Fairness".
meaning, that if a player asks for a takeback and it is accepted, he will automatically be forced to accept a takeback himself.
so for example, if white accept a takeback from Black, he gains a "point". or "credit".
once white asks for a takeback himself, the game will automatically use this credit to accept the takeback.

i know that we should hope for fairness, but unfortunately it doesn't always happen.

hello Lichess users. lately i face too many players asking for a takeback during a rated game, and usually i don't mind. but when i ask one back, they refuse. i have started to ask players, before the first move, if they play with or without playbacks. not all of them answer. maybe there should be a solution in the form of a new feature - "Takeback Fairness". meaning, that if a player asks for a takeback and it is accepted, he will automatically be forced to accept a takeback himself. so for example, if white accept a takeback from Black, he gains a "point". or "credit". once white asks for a takeback himself, the game will automatically use this credit to accept the takeback. i know that we should hope for fairness, but unfortunately it doesn't always happen.

parallaxia1729

#2

Simply just don't accept takebacks. Eventually, it well be argued "some takebacks are more important than others." etc,... Much simpler to just not accept.

#1 I agree with you

I agree with you too

I agree

The thing is, I usually accept a takeback if it's clearly a misclick rather than a blunder you realized too late. Accepting a takeback on a misclick is good etiquette since those tend to happen when playing online. However, you can't expect the opponent to do the same to you so you have to keep that in mind when accepting the opponent's takebacks.

I don't think a takeback on a blunder is ever necessary though, someone didn't think their move through and they have to suffer the consequences. Accepting the takeback in such situations is friendly but to me it's not very suitable for competitive or rated games at least. Of course the situation is different if you're playing friendly casual games and just want both parties to learn and enjoy.

The thing is, I usually accept a takeback if it's clearly a misclick rather than a blunder you realized too late. Accepting a takeback on a misclick is good etiquette since those tend to happen when playing online. However, you can't expect the opponent to do the same to you so you have to keep that in mind when accepting the opponent's takebacks. I don't think a takeback on a blunder is ever necessary though, someone didn't think their move through and they have to suffer the consequences. Accepting the takeback in such situations is friendly but to me it's not very suitable for competitive or rated games at least. Of course the situation is different if you're playing friendly casual games and just want both parties to learn and enjoy.

I agree....

In my humble opinion, "take backs" should very rarely, if ever, be allowed in rated games (these are not in order of importance...):

All mistakes are not equal. If you blunder a bishop and ask to take it back, you might be granted a reprieve. However, according to the above system, the other player could later hang his queen and be given a similar reprieve. This would not be fair. Perhaps a system, created by a computer, of comparable mistakes could be allowed (a mistake for a mistake, a blunder for a blunder, etc.). Now, I am not suggesting that any take backs be allowed. I am just giving an example of a way to make take backs "more fair." Now, some people make a slip of the mouse or accidentally release the button. This is understandable. However, the player with the advantage should not be required to cede the advantage just because the other player messed up. And how is one certain that the other player actually "dropped the piece by mistake??" This opens up the possibility of dishonest play on the part of the one who made the error.
Sportsmanship demands that people make moves and live with the consequences.
How will one learn to make better moves (and manage her/his time more effectively) if one is allowed to take back moves in a real game? I remember playing chess as a kid. I had to learn to win by my own ability. Sometimes, this took a lot of self-discipline. Also, I was not the "best loser" in the world. If my grandpa had allowed me a take back (effectively throwing the game in some cases), I never would have learned to play a better game. Also, if I had won more games in the beginning, I would have experienced a rude awakening when I went on to play rated games. Granted, I am still not a really good player, but I might still be rated hundreds of points lower if I had never learned to improve by example. Losses are not the end of the world...we can learn from them...

In my humble opinion, "take backs" should very rarely, if ever, be allowed in rated games (these are not in order of importance...): 1. All mistakes are not equal. If you blunder a bishop and ask to take it back, you might be granted a reprieve. However, according to the above system, the other player could later hang his queen and be given a similar reprieve. This would not be fair. Perhaps a system, created by a computer, of comparable mistakes could be allowed (a mistake for a mistake, a blunder for a blunder, etc.). Now, I am not suggesting that any take backs be allowed. I am just giving an example of a way to make take backs "more fair." Now, some people make a slip of the mouse or accidentally release the button. This is understandable. However, the player with the advantage should not be required to cede the advantage just because the other player messed up. And how is one certain that the other player actually "dropped the piece by mistake??" This opens up the possibility of dishonest play on the part of the one who made the error. 2. Sportsmanship demands that people make moves and live with the consequences. 3. How will one learn to make better moves (and manage her/his time more effectively) if one is allowed to take back moves in a real game? I remember playing chess as a kid. I had to learn to win by my own ability. Sometimes, this took a lot of self-discipline. Also, I was not the "best loser" in the world. If my grandpa had allowed me a take back (effectively throwing the game in some cases), I never would have learned to play a better game. Also, if I had won more games in the beginning, I would have experienced a rude awakening when I went on to play rated games. Granted, I am still not a really good player, but I might still be rated hundreds of points lower if I had never learned to improve by example. Losses are not the end of the world...we can learn from them...

DjediJoe

#9

Rated game = NO TAKEBACKS...for any reason. How else would a rating be meaningful and accurate?

DoomedBishop

#10

I left out some things earlier. What if you are playing someone who doesn't speak your language at all? And what if you don't speak theirs? You might not have any way of knowing if the person really dropped the piece (as opposed to moving it there intentionally and, thinking it's a good move at first, seeking a "take back"). I have, on occasion, played people--on this site--who either don't speak English or might speak it but choose to type with characters with which I am not familiar. How am I supposed to know if the other person made a mistake with the mouse (versus making a tactical or strategic error and not wanting to lose the game)?

In OTB tournaments, there are NO takebacks for inaccuracies, mistakes, and blunders. Even a good move cannot be retracted for a better one. This rule applies to ladder games at chess clubs, etc.

The only time you may touch a piece deliberately and not move it (assuming it can be legally moved in the first place) in an OTB game is if you first alert your opponent to your intention of adjusting the piece. ("I adjust" in whatever the prevailing language might be for the event.). This is often used when a piece is clearly on one square (as indicated by the previous moves on a scoresheet, if there is any doubt), but the piece is not centered.

I left out some things earlier. What if you are playing someone who doesn't speak your language at all? And what if you don't speak theirs? You might not have any way of knowing if the person really dropped the piece (as opposed to moving it there intentionally and, thinking it's a good move at first, seeking a "take back"). I have, on occasion, played people--on this site--who either don't speak English or might speak it but choose to type with characters with which I am not familiar. How am I supposed to know if the other person made a mistake with the mouse (versus making a tactical or strategic error and not wanting to lose the game)? In OTB tournaments, there are NO takebacks for inaccuracies, mistakes, and blunders. Even a good move cannot be retracted for a better one. This rule applies to ladder games at chess clubs, etc. The only time you may touch a piece deliberately and not move it (assuming it can be legally moved in the first place) in an OTB game is if you first alert your opponent to your intention of adjusting the piece. ("I adjust" in whatever the prevailing language might be for the event.). This is often used when a piece is clearly on one square (as indicated by the previous moves on a scoresheet, if there is any doubt), but the piece is not centered.