What is Flagging in chess?
Winning a game by running the opponent out of time, even if you are losing on the board.
When the clock hits zero, the player who ran out of time loses - regardless of the position on the board. Flagging is a legitimate tactic in fast time controls, though it is considered poor sportsmanship to play clearly lost positions purely to flag a winning opponent.
Spot flagging in your own games
Free. Chess2EZ finds the patterns you keep missing and explains each in plain English.
Analyze my games →More chess terms
- Touch-move ruleOver-the-board rule: if you touch a piece you must move it; if you touch an opponent's piece you must capture it.
- ResignTo concede defeat before being checkmated - the most common way competitive games end.
- FileA vertical column of squares on the chessboard, labelled a through h.
- RankA horizontal row of squares on the chessboard, numbered 1 through 8.
- DiagonalA line of squares running corner-to-corner at 45 degrees.
- Long diagonalThe two eight-square diagonals that run from corner to corner (a1-h8 and a8-h1).