6

Wouldn't be surprise if this is a duplicate (related even more related), but:

Obviously there are two main ways to lose a game: Blundering it away in a single move or be slowly crushed by a better player without knowing what's happening.

We now have a giant database of games and engines that can tell us who is on top at any time in a game, and they could answer my question: which way is more frequent?

Very evidently, the answer might depend on ELO or ELO difference, so you can take that in account too.

Improve this question
6
  • 2
    There could be a bit more nuance here I think, for instance there could be a chaotic position where both players are making "blunders" all over the place and only in the end when the dust settles does it become clear what's going on. Also, I suspect the answer relies quite a bit on time control as well as rating difference.
    – Scounged
    Apr 18, 2021 at 9:35
  • Problem is, how do you distinguish between the two? Like, in engine chess, it is arguably possible to define a "blunder" as "whenever the eval increases tremendously in one move". But if you have a 32-piece tablebase, then you'd have 0.00 eval the whole way before suddenly increasing to a mate score. That would classify every lost game as lost due to a blunder. I don't see how to define this objectively unfortunately.
    – Allure
    Apr 18, 2021 at 11:08
  • @Scounged: This is a very interesting spinoff question I already pondered to ask: Maximum of blunders (defined as changing the objective outcome) in one game.
    – Hauke Reddmann
    Apr 18, 2021 at 15:30
  • @Allure: I see the problem and already tested independently the following: Kh2 Ph3 Pb5 - Kh4 Pc7 Pb7, Black to move. He can lose on the spot with 1...b6??, ruining his majority. Lichess/Stockfish, with tablebases, rated it as +7something. (The point is it didn't just jump to +99.) The one question I linked arbitrarily used +3. Unfortunately I either don't see an alternative to treating this pragmatically.
    – Hauke Reddmann
    Apr 18, 2021 at 15:36
  • It's hard for a computer to tell when you've been "crushed without knowing what happened". Objectively speaking, every game that is lost had at least one critical mistake.
    – David
    Apr 18, 2021 at 17:47

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

At the GM level, players mostly resign after the second "slow crushing" method. In amateur chess usually a blunder of a queen or checkmate or major piece wins. Before 1000 it is the first around 99% of the time (talking chess.com elo) because they cannot calculate well enough to find tactics.

Even at the IM and GM level players will still blunder, but they are usually positional errors and not major piece blunders (of course, they do occur such as Giri vs Carlsen in the Chessable Masters).

Most victories in classical and longer time formats at the GM level are resignations, but in bullet it is usually timeout or a blunder.

Improve this answer
-2

Not sure if the question is accurately stated in English as was intended.

You lose either by getting mated, losing on time when clock runs out, or you give up for some reason. Or the director forfeits the game for other reasons like your cell phone ringing, or you are caught using the internet for help.

Within the reason to give up it is usually for losing material, or by being outplayed so you eventually are behind material when they promote a pawn and are able to mate soon.

Are you asking for the ways you can get outplayed or something else?

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    he is asking which losing way is more frequent, not the types
    – Harry Iguana
    Apr 18, 2021 at 22:15
  • That is what I noted. His example is not a way of losing. AFAIK there are no statistics on the sub areas of the one way he indicated.
    – expert
    Apr 18, 2021 at 23:33
  • 'Are you asking for the ways you can get outplayed or something else?' --> outplayed right?
    – BCLC
    Apr 19, 2021 at 14:40

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.