As the subject says:
I suffered at least three times from a (dirty) hack in the time control settings of live tournaments when playing as White and waiting for my opponent. It happened in 5min + 3x30sec and 10min + 3x30sec games, but I assume this problem also applies to other (longer) time settings.
If Black doesn’t make his first move and lets nearly expire his whole time bank, lets say he doesn’t move in the waiting period (which is 1:30 in a 10min + 3x 30sec byo-yomi tournament) and also doesn’t move up to a remaining 1 second of his original 10 minutes, and then makes his first move, his time bank will be reset to the original amount of 10 minutes. Knowing this, a player with the black pieces can easily use these 11min and 30 sec for whatever he wants to do, then go back to the computer and still enjoy his whole time bank in a tournament game.
During these 11 min and 30 sec the player with the white pieces has to sit at the computer, tablet or smartphone and watch the screen because he doesn’t have a waiting period in case Black suddenly moves in between. And his time bank won’t be reset to 10 minutes.
Against me players with the black pieces let their time bank run out literally to the last moment, made their first move seconds before forfeiting, didn’t apologize or give understandable explanations. After I asked, one black player mentioned that he nearly starved and used the time to prepare some food. While I was waiting like an idiot to play a tournament game, and couldn’t even go to the bathroom. Because it would have been to my disadvantage if he makes his first move in between. [Edit] To clarify it: I’m not talking about someone being late for a minute or three. Or about players who even don’t show up anymore and lose on time. I talk about those with the black pieces who obviously exhaust this system on purpose.
I already mentioned the problem in the supporters chat but somehow no one there saw the point (maybe my english is too bad). Perhaps I’m old fashioned, but for me this delay behavior is irritating, annoying and disrespectful. Not only the opponent of the delayer suffers, but also do all other participants of a tournament. Because they all have to wait until a round is completed. I can’t talk for others but if this behavior happens only once again against me I won’t complain anymore but also play no more live tournaments on this server until the rule is changed. I simply don’t want to spend my spare time this way.
I see the good of a waiting period. But it should be sensible, fair and to both players’ advantage or disadvantage. Chess, Backgammon and Poker servers all have different kinds of grace periods implemented. But not in such an odd execution as I find it here.
For example a good rule would be to give both players a waiting time of maximal 20-25% of their whole time bank. In case of a 10 min + 3x 30sec byo-yomi tournament the waiting period would be around 2.5-3 minutes each. In case a player makes his first move within this 3 minutes his time bank will be reset to 10 minutes. In case he doesn’t he simply loses on time.
Ciao
acepoint
PS. Ironically, only after I badly »hacked« this tournament time control settings in a game against a delayer this night (when I was really pissed) a moderator became aware of the problem. I was using 29 seconds of my 30sec for each move all the time making nonsense moves, and he finally finished the game in presence of 6-8 impatiently waiting tournament participants/spectators. We later chatted about the waiting period flaw and he finally saw the point. I’m looking forward now what changes will be made.
PPS. Is there a way to do cross posts here? I’m not sure whether this topic belongs to this forum or to the developers.