Resignation
Resignation is a player's declaration that they give up the game, which ends it as a loss for that player unless the opponent could never checkmate, in which case the game is drawn.
Also called: resigning
A player may resign whenever they decide a position is beyond saving. The Laws put it simply: declaring that you resign ends the game at once and the opponent scores the point. Tipping over the king or offering a handshake are customs that make the declaration clear, and many players also say "I resign". There is one exception worth knowing: if the opponent has no way at all to checkmate by any series of legal moves, resigning does not lose, and the game is recorded as a draw. Beyond the rules, resignation is a judgment skill. Stronger players resign when the position offers no realistic swindle, saving time and respecting the opponent, but resigning early against a weaker player in a position that still has tricks is a loss of learning. As a training habit, play on a few moves in a lost position to see how the opponent converts, because that is how you learn their technique. After the game both players sign the scoresheets, and the result stands, so be sure the handshake and the paperwork agree. Online sites give a resign button; use it only when you mean it.
It sits close to Draw by agreement. A draw by agreement ends the game with a half point each when both players settle on a draw, which the Laws allow once each has made a move unless the rules of the event restrict it.
Knowing "Resignation" is the easy part; what to practice next depends on your rating, and the improvement plans by rating band list the habits worth building at each level.
Related terms
A draw by agreement ends the game with a half point each when both players settle on a draw, which the Laws allow once each has made a move unless the rules of the event restrict it.
A scoresheet is the paper or electronic form on which each player writes down all the moves of the game in algebraic notation, and which both players sign or approve at the end to confirm the result.
A dead position is one in which checkmate can no longer happen for either side, however the moves go and however cooperative the players are, and the game ends as a draw the moment it arises.
A forfeit is a loss awarded without a finished game, for example when a player arrives after the default time, persistently refuses to follow the Laws, or has an unapproved electronic device in the playing venue.
Checkmate, or mate, ends a chess game at once: the king of the side to move is under attack, and none of that side's legal moves can remove the attack, so the player who delivered it wins.
The arbiter is the official who sees that the Laws of Chess and the rules of the event are followed, rules on disputes and claims, and can penalize rule breaches during a tournament.
Guides that go further
What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid.
How much does chess coaching cost?
Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each.
A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li.
Sources
- FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023), Article 5.1.2, read Oct 21, 2026.
- FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023), Article 8.7, read Oct 21, 2026.
- FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023), Article 10.1, read Oct 21, 2026.
Want to spot this in your own games?
A first lesson starts with your games: George reviews them and builds a study plan around what he finds.