I learned that there are different expectations for "online" vs. "live" chess here. Unlike "live", in "online" it is explicitly allowed to make use of any and all reference material, even including the Game Explorer, during the game. (In fact, there's an Explore link in the Moves tab that takes you straight to the relevant node!). You still absolutely cannot use a chess engine.

Of course, if you wind up with two players both putting too much faith in "play what the masters played" they will simply end up re-creating some former master game completely, so that would be lame.

Personally I don't get very far before I get to moves that I don't understand and don't "like" because they violate the super-simple opening principles I keep in my head. So I diverge and then I find out what happens. Just because GMs have deeply studied a particular line and know how to play it doesn't mean it's a safe bet for me.

Other etiquette: if the game says its time limit is 14 days then I feel you have every right to use the entire 14 days before making your move if you want to.

Lastly, I "blogged" on the topic of resigning.

Chesslers

Super Admins

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