When do chess players resign? This analysis shows the average move at which resignations occur, and how this varies by rating bracket and time control.
Source Lichess·Games 828,000,879·Range 2023-12 to 2025-11·Updated January 2026
Resignation Move = the move number when a player resigns. Red = quick resignations (before move 20). Green = long games (after move 50).
Players at 2500+ resign 9.7 moves later than at 0-999.
26% of resignations happen before move 20, while 9% occur after move 50.
Later resignations at higher ratings: move 22 to 32
| Time Control | Avg. Move | Games |
|---|---|---|
UltraBulletQuickest | 22.2 | 290,037 |
Bullet | 25.5 | 177,416,719 |
Blitz | 29.9 | 474,401,638 |
Rapid | 30.1 | 169,337,197 |
ClassicalLongest | 30.4 | 6,555,288 |
On average, players resign on move 29 in Lichess games. 26% of resignations happen before move 20 (quick losses), while 9% occur after move 50 (long battles). Higher-rated players tend to resign 9.7 moves later as games require more precision to convert advantages.
On average, players resign around move 29 based on 828M Lichess games. 26% of resignations happen before move 20 (quick losses), while 9% occur after move 50 (long battles).
At 2500+, average resignation is move 31.5. At 0-999, it's move 21.8—9.7 moves earlier. Higher-rated players have better defensive technique, evaluate positions more accurately, and know when a position is truly lost vs. still defensible.
At 0-999, players resign at move 21.8 on average—9.7 moves earlier than 2500+. At lower ratings, it's worth playing on—opponents often blunder advantages. As you improve, learn to recognize truly hopeless positions to save time and mental energy.
Yes. In UltraBullet, players resign at move 22.2 on average—8.2 moves earlier than Classical (move 30.4). Faster time controls see earlier resignations due to time pressure and the ease of starting a new game.
26% of resignations happen before move 20—these are quick losses from opening blunders, traps, or overwhelming attacks. 9% occur after move 50, showing many games become long endgame battles. The remaining 66% end in the middlegame (moves 20-50).
This analysis is based on 828M resigned games from Lichess. Use the rating and time control filters to see data at your level—sample sizes vary by bracket. The move distribution (26% early, 9% late) is consistent across ratings.