Stalling in Chess
This unsportsmanlike behavior is a tactic some players use when they realize they cannot win, often to frustrate or annoy their opponent. Stalling can take several forms, including:
Letting the clock run out: Instead of resigning, the player simply allows the time to expire without making any moves.
Taking excessively long between moves: The player deliberately takes a very long time between moves, effectively dragging the game out with unnecessary or pointless moves.
Some players may even send taunting messages in the chat, such as "haha, have fun waiting," to further frustrate their opponent.
In Daily games, this behavior is referred to as 'Vacation Abuse,' where players misuse the vacation feature to delay the game indefinitely.
What to do if you encounter Stalling in Chess.com
If you come across this kind of behavior, we encourage you to report the player. We understand how frustrating stalling can be, and we do not tolerate it on our site.
Did you receive a message about stalling?
If Chess.com detects stalling behavior in a game, you may see a message about stalling before you can start another game. The message you see will explain the behavior that was detected and remind you how to avoid it in future games.
You'll need to acknowledge the message before matchmaking can continue. Closing or refreshing the page will not dismiss the message. If you leave before acknowledging it, you'll see it again when you try to start another game.
