Abandonment on Chess.com
No one wants to wait for an opponent who isn't there, so Chess.com uses several timers to prevent games from being held up by inactive or disconnected players.
A game may end by abandonment if:
You take too long to make your first move.
You lose your connection and don't reconnect in time.
You take too long to make a move early in the game.
Both players lose their connection at the same time.
Why did I lose by abandonment or on time even though my connection seemed fine?
This usually happens because your device briefly lost its connection to Chess.com's game servers.
A strong Wi-Fi or cellular signal doesn't always mean your game remained connected. For example, your device may still be connected to your router while the connection between your device and Chess.com's servers is interrupted. If that happens during a game, your move may never reach the server, and your clock may continue running while your device attempts to reconnect.
Common causes include:
Switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data.
The Chess.com app being sent to the background or paused by your device.
Browser, app, or device performance issues that delay communication with the game server.
If the connection isn't restored in time, the game may be marked as abandoned. If your clock reaches zero before you reconnect, the game will instead be recorded as a loss on time.
Why was my game counted as a loss instead of an abort?
Repeated disconnections, aborted games, or stalling can affect how certain games are scored.
For example, if you don't make your first move in time, the game is normally aborted. However, if your account has a history of frequent disconnections, aborted games, or stalling, the game may instead be recorded as a loss by abandonment.
Abandonment timers
First move timer
When a new game begins, you have a limited time to make your first move before the game is considered aborted.
How much time you have depends on the time controls of the game:
Bullet: 15 seconds to make a move
Blitz: 20 seconds
Rapid: 60 seconds
If you donât make a move before the timer runs out, the game will be aborted. However, if your account has a history of frequent disconnections, game aborts, or stalling, the game may be counted as a loss by abandonment instead.
Disconnect timer
A game can also be ruled as abandoned if you disconnect for too long. The amount of time you have to reconnect depends on the time controls of the game.
The rule is that if you disconnect, you have 10% of the base time plus 40 times the increment, with a minimum of 30 seconds and a maximum of 3 minutes to reconnect. If you can't reconnect within this timeframe, the game will end.
The formula for any disconnect timer, where B=base time and i=increment: (B + 40i) x 0.1
Examples
Bullet 1 | 0 -- The base time is 1 minute plus no increment is 1 minute, times 10% equals 6 seconds. Since the minimum is 30 seconds, youâd have 30 seconds to reconnect.
Blitz 5 | 5 -- The base time is 5 minutes (300 seconds), plus 40 x 5 seconds increment is 500 seconds. Multiply by 10% and thatâs 50 seconds to reconnect.
Rapid 10 | 0 -- The base time is 10 minutes (600 seconds) plus no increment, times 10% is 60 seconds to reconnect
Rapid 15 | 10 -- The base time is 15 minutes (900 seconds) plus 40 x 10 seconds, which totals 1300 seconds. 10% of that is 2 minutes 10 seconds to reconnect.
If a player disconnects in a completely lost position (say. -3.5 or worse), the game will be considered abandoned after just 15 seconds, regardless of the time control.
The disconnect timer does not begin until it is the disconnected playerâs turn.
Long move timer
A lesser-known way to time out is by taking too long to make a single move, even if you're still connected.
This rules applies only during the first 10 moves of the game. If you use more than 50% of the main time on one move before reaching 10 moves, the game will be considered abandoned. After the 10th move, you can take as much time as you need for each move.
Examples
Bullet 2 | 1: Half of 2 minutes is 1 minute, so if you took more than 1:00 on a single move before the tenth move, you would be considered to have abandoned the game.
Blitz 5 | 5: Half of 5 minutes is 2:30, so if you took more than 2:30 on a single move before the tenth move, you would be considered to have abandoned the game.
Rapid 15 |10: Half of 15 minutes is 7:30, so if you took more than 7:30 on a single move before the tenth move, you would be considered to have abandoned the game.
Double forfeit
If both players disconnect at the same time, a 15-second timer starts. If neither reconnects, the game is aborted with no rating changes and wonât appear in either archive. This is rare but can happen during a server reset or if both players lose connection simultaneously.
Check out this article to learn how to fix disconnection issues: How do I fix my disconnect/lag issues?
FAQs
Can lag cause me to lose on time?
Can lag cause me to lose on time?
Yes. You don't have to lose your connection completely for your clock to be affected.
Lag is a delay between your device and Chess.com's game servers. During periods of lag, moves can take longer to reach the server, causing your clock to continue running even though you may have already played your move.
Why did I lose by abandonment even though I didn't leave the game?
Why did I lose by abandonment even though I didn't leave the game?
This usually means Chess.com detected that you were disconnected or inactive for too long. Even if the game still appeared open on your device, your connection to Chess.com's game servers may have been interrupted.
Why was my game abandoned while I was thinking about a move?
Why was my game abandoned while I was thinking about a move?
During the first 10 moves, spending too much time on a single move can result in abandonment, even if you're still connected. If you use more than 50% of your main time on one move before move 10, the game may end by abandonment.
Why did I lose after disconnecting for only a short time?
Why did I lose after disconnecting for only a short time?
The disconnect timer varies based on the game's time control. In most games, you have 10% of the base time plus 40 times the increment to reconnect, with a minimum of 30 seconds and a maximum of 3 minutes. If you're in a completely lost position, the game may be abandoned after 15 seconds.
Why did my opponent seem disconnected longer than I was allowed to be?
Why did my opponent seem disconnected longer than I was allowed to be?
Disconnect timers depend on both the time control and the game situation. The timer also doesn't begin until it's the disconnected player's turn, so two situations may not behave the same way.
Why did I lose on time when I thought my opponent's clock was running?
Why did I lose on time when I thought my opponent's clock was running?
If you were disconnected, the board on your device may not have reflected the current game state. Your move may never have reached Chess.com's servers, while your own clock continued running until your time expired.
Can switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data cause abandonment?
Can switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data cause abandonment?
Yes. Changing networks can briefly interrupt your connection to Chess.com's game servers. Even a short interruption can affect live games, especially if it happens during your turn.
Can the Chess.com app disconnect if I switch apps or lock my phone?
Can the Chess.com app disconnect if I switch apps or lock my phone?
Yes. If the app is sent to the background or paused by your device, your connection to the game may be interrupted. For the best experience, keep the app open while playing Live Chess.
Why did my game disappear or end without a rating change?
Why did my game disappear or end without a rating change?
If both players disconnect at the same time and neither reconnects within 15 seconds, the game is aborted. No rating changes are applied, and the game won't appear in either player's archive. Although rare, this can happen during a server reset or if both players lose their connection simultaneously.
How can I prevent losses by abandonment or disconnect?
How can I prevent losses by abandonment or disconnect?
Use the most stable internet connection available, avoid switching networks during games, keep Chess.com open while playing, close unnecessary apps or browser tabs, and follow the steps in How do I fix my disconnect/lag issues?