Aborter - Chess glossary term

Aborter

Definition

An “Aborter” is informal online chess slang for a player who frequently aborts games before any moves are made. To “abort” a game means to cancel it at move zero, resulting in no result and no rating change. The noun “Aborter” carries a mildly negative tone when used for someone who habitually cancels pairings—often to dodge certain opponents, colors, or time controls—rather than for an occasional, legitimate mistake (e.g., wrong time control).

This term is specific to online chess platforms that provide an Abort button. Over-the-board (OTB) chess has no equivalent; once paired and the round starts, not playing generally leads to a forfeit.

How it is used in chess

In online play (especially Blitz and Bullet chess), you may hear comments like “My opponent is an aborter” or “Serial aborter in the pool,” describing users who repeatedly cancel pairings. Typical motivations include:

Selecting a preferred color (aborting until they get White)
Avoiding big rating mismatches or specific opponents like a known “shark”
Misclicking the wrong time control and backing out immediately
Lag spikes or device issues detected before the first move

While one-off aborts are usually tolerated, excessive aborting can waste others’ time and is frowned upon as poor online etiquette.

Etiquette and fair play

Most platforms allow aborting only before any move is played; if a move has been made, “abort” typically becomes impossible and you must play on or resign. Excessive aborting may result in pairing limits, temporary queues, or other fair-play interventions. Remember: an aborted game does not affect your or current rating.

Reasonable aborts:
- Accidentally queued the wrong time control (e.g., joined 3+0 instead of 5+3)
- Major lag/connection issue noticed instantly
- Wrong variant selection (e.g., joined Chess960 unintentionally)
Poor form:
- Aborting repeatedly to hunt for a “perfect” pairing
- Dodging specific players or ratings in a rated pool
- Aborting in events where it disrupts others (arenas, tournaments)

In online chess etiquette, it’s better to set proper rating filters, time controls, or variants ahead of time instead of aborting repeatedly. If an opponent like opponentusername aborts several times in a row, consider switching pools or adjusting your pairing settings.

Strategic and psychological angle

There is no board strategy behind aborting—it happens before move one—but there is a psychological and practical dimension:

Session rhythm: Constant aborts can break your flow and focus.
Color preference: Some players seek White to chase early initiative, even in casual Blitz.
Dodging prep: Players may abort when paired against nicknames they associate with tough prep or specialized lines.
Time management: In hyperfast pools, aborting wastes precious warm-up time that could be spent actually playing.

Examples

Legitimate abort: You realize you entered 1+0 instead of 3+2. You abort immediately and requeue for 3+2.
Borderline behavior: You abort three times in a row to avoid Black. Many players view this as poor form; better to accept the color and play.
Technical abort: Your device freezes at the pairing screen and you hit abort when it wakes up. This is understandable as a one-off.

Illustrative PGN: the “mouse slip” temptation

Sometimes players feel tempted to abort after a first-move mouse slip that could lead to a quick loss. Note: most sites disable abort after the first move—so it’s better to take a breath and play on, or resign if truly hopeless. Here’s how a disastrous start can look if the game proceeds:

Instead of relying on aborts, reduce slips with careful setup and avoid playing when distracted—especially in Bullet chess.

History and platform context

The Abort feature emerged with online chess to prevent undesired or accidental pairings from affecting ratings. Over time, “Aborter” became slang for users who overuse this tool, much like related terms such as Disconnecter. Unlike classic OTB culture—where failing to play typically results in a forfeit—online pools try to preserve fairness and momentum by allowing abort before any move, while discouraging its abuse.

Tips to avoid becoming an “Aborter”

Set your desired time control and rating range before joining the pool.
Use casual (unrated) games for warm-up or testing new lines.
Enable increments in fast time controls if you dislike pure flag races (see Flag and “Dirty flag”).
Stabilize your connection and input devices to prevent early dropouts or Mouse Slip.
In events and tournaments, don’t abort—play or respectfully decline to join.

Related slang and concepts

Disconnecter: Someone who often disconnects, sometimes to avoid losses or unpleasant pairings.
Flag / “Flag-fall”: Losing on time; a separate issue from aborting.
Dirty flag: Winning on time in a lost position; sometimes criticized, but within the rules.
Skittles and Coffeehouse chess: Casual play where etiquette norms still encourage actually playing the game rather than aborting repeatedly.

Interesting notes

In many pools, if either side makes a legal move, aborting is disallowed to prevent “result shopping.” From that point, your options are to play on, offer a draw, or resign.
Some platforms auto-abort if a disconnect happens before any move; this protects both players from lag accidents.
Serial aborting can lower your effective pairing priority in a pool, matching you less quickly as a gentle deterrent.

Quick FAQ

Does aborting affect rating? No—aborted games don’t change rating or win/loss stats.
Is aborting the same as resigning? No—resigning concedes the game; aborting cancels it before it starts.
Is it ever okay to abort? Yes, sparingly—legitimate mistakes or immediate technical issues are generally accepted.