Chess etiquette & timeout rules
Say hi. Play your moves. Don't make someone wait out a lost game. These are Chess Webcam Hustlers' etiquette and abandonment rules, not universal rules for every chess website. The limits below apply to games with no increment.
Want to play chess online free right now? Head to the Park lobby — see who's waiting and who's mid-game.
The tables are open — be the first to sit down.
Basic etiquette
Say hi, play your moves, say gg. Don't stall a lost position, don't spam chat, don't leave mid-game. Keep your camera on and your face in frame.
Abort vs resign
Abort is only possible before the first move — no winner, no rating change. After that, choosing Resign to leave ends the game: your opponent wins and ratings change normally. Closing the tab is different: the away timer runs before abandonment is decided.
Switching apps or closing the tab
Hiding the game, switching apps or closing the tab counts as gone. If you're gone long enough (see the table), you lose by abandonment. Refreshing returns you to the same game, but a long connection interruption can still reach the away limit.
Slow early moves
During each player's first 10 moves, a single move can't take longer than half the starting time, or that player loses. If both players are gone for 15 seconds, the game is a draw with no rating change.
Timeout limits by game
1+0
First move 15s · Away 30s · Long move 30s
3+0
First move 20s · Away 30s · Long move 90s
5+0
First move 20s · Away 30s · Long move 150s
10+0
First move 1 min · Away 1 min · Long move 5 min
30+0
First move 1 min · Away 3 min · Long move 15 min
FAQ
What happens if I don't make my first move?
The game is cancelled with no rating change once the first-move time runs out.
Do I lose if I switch to another app?
Only if you stay away longer than the away limit for your time control.
Does refreshing resign my game?
No. Refreshing returns you to the same game. Reconnect promptly: your clock and away timer don't pause while the page reloads.