Let's talk about flagging opponents

#1 "I wanted to get everyone's opinion..."

Welcome to the internet. Everyone is a lot of people.

"But my next question would be, at what point is flagging considered acceptable? Or worded differently, at what point does it become unacceptable? Your example about the theoretically drawn position is a great example of where flagging is not right. Do you think that if an opponent plays exceptionally well or if an opponent is losing but then overturns the game to winning is a position where flagging is not acceptable? Just wanted your thoughts on it."

Fair question, however #25 and #29 provide pragmatic advice: if the clock troubles you, play with different clock settings.

I once won against a titled player by timeout and privately they (correctly) criticized me for doing so, since trying to win games by any means inhibits a player's improvement.

#39 "Even though this is apparently an unpopular opinion in this forum..."

Honestly, no, it isn't unpopular (I frequently have to explain to players their errors in thinking); but your goal is actually brigade the forum by finding players who agree with your position and lobby for some sort of change.

"I once won against a titled player by timeout and privately they (correctly) criticized me for doing so, since trying to win games by any means inhibits a player's improvement."

playing on so short time limits that flagging is a option is morelikely to inhibit players improvement.

If you think playing good moves is more important than flagging then play with increment, it really is that simple.

Honestly when playing with faster time controls (Yes, 5min or even 10min included) we have to manage our time well or else we will get flagged.
On the other hand, when both players have low amounts of time, dirty flagging (i.e. making bad but unexpected moves) is part of the game and is perfectly ethical.
If you do not wish to play chess like this, simply play longer time controls or increment, or better, both. End of story.

"Just play with increment"

Looking at lichess.org/tournament right now:
1+0 1+0 3+0 5+0 10+0 1/2+0 1/2+0 10+0 5+0 3+0 2+0 3+0

#45 Yeah... I've not been successful in persuading Lichess on this point.

>>It can get quite toxic if cursing is allowed in chat, which is why Lichess does not allow it in their rules. Human emotions are quite hard to control,

@DhairyaxBTS

Yes, they are. That's why human emotions must be let out. Some experience that I got in police service lets me affirm that anger suppressed is more dangerous than anger cried out. A friend of mine, a shy dentist and a chess player is waiting now his release from detention where he had been put for a murder.

@Toadofsky You make great points. I personally don't have that much trouble with time management. I was just wondering the other day about the concept of flagging and thinking about what others might have to say about its usage. Though for me, I'm not really looking to brigade the forum and try to enact a change. I just wanted to see where everyone's thoughts lie on this subject, and understand why flagging would be considered acceptable for some, but not for others.

I do agree with you that one cannot really improve by flagging an opponent when in a lost position or a drawn position. But as I and others have said before, the use of flagging comes down to the situation/position of the board, and also the character of the player.

@xv6503 Yep exactly. Bottled up anger is quite dangerous and will 100% affect the way we think and act, which is why venting out emotion is important.

#48 Thanks @DhairyaxBTS . It's been challenging arguing both ends of this issue:
* among Lichess staff: increment lobby seeks, tournaments, etc. are unpopular but we should encourage them anyway
* among players: lichess.org/faq#timeout rules are good and would be near impossible to improve; players claim to enjoy time pressure but often are unwilling to consider trying positive-increment time controls which are unpopular

For more than 5 years, FIDE recommends to play only time controls with increment. That leads to clean end of games.
If you play without inc, be sure you will get flagging, dirty flagging and very dirty flagging !

I call "very dirty", endgames with N vs P where the "N" side don't even take the pawn because it will be a draw, but he will premove his knight only to win on time.