Hi all,
I just responded to a post in the Only Chess forum which concerned me a little so I wanted to clear something up.
The purpose of the new timebank feature is to SPEED UP play, not slow it down!
Take the case of someone who ideally would like to play 1 day timeouts but can't do this because if they were called away for a few days, or just went away the weekend, they could be timed out. So they play 3 day, or even 7 day timeouts, or 21 day timeout if they have a holiday coming up.
The timebank feature allows this person to play games with much shorter timeouts safe in the knowledge that there is a buffer than can be used when necessary.
On an average of 40 moves per game, a 1 day timeout with a 14 day timebank is the equivalent in the old system of a game with a 1.35 day timeout, it's just that in the new system you get to distribute all those 0.35s across your moves as you see fit, using all of them on one move, or 40 of them equally on all moves (assuming a 40 move game).
So a 1 day timeout with a 14 day timebank should be more than twice as fast as a 3 day timeout under the old system.
Hope this clears up any confusion... I certainly wouldn't like to think that you think that I want to slow down the rate of play... far from it.
-Chris
I'm totally with you on this - I was concidering that I would have to make all of my games 14 or even 21 day TOs because the posibility of business trips is always looming. Now I can keep my games to 7 day (or even 3 day for lighter games, which i've never done before) knowing that if occasionally I can't move for an extended period then this won't be a problem.
Thanks - I haven't started any games recently so haven't had chance to try timebank, but I like the sound of it a lot!
Jon
I thought the timebank feature was introduced to enable people to play games and go on a holiday once in a while without risking the possibility of being timed out massively and as a result of that the gigantic dropping of their ratings. I don't remember anything at all about the feature being introduced in order to speed up games.
Maybe that's the reason why the 7 day timeout tournaments have become so rare. :'(
Originally posted by ivanhoeYes, people can play 3 day timeouts without having to worry about being timed out constantly. So there is no reason to play anything other than a 3 day timeout. The fact is that you are better protected against a sudden timeout with a 3 day timeout/14 day timebank than you were with the old 7 day timeout. Plus the rate of play will not be allowed to stagnate excessively.
I thought the timebank feature was introduced to enable people to play games and go on a holiday once in a while without risking the possibility of being timed out massively and as a result of that the gigantic dropping of their ratings. I don't remember anything at all about the feature being introduced in order to speed up games.
Maybe that's the reason why the 7 day timeout tournaments have become so rare. :'(
Originally posted by rwingettIn this way the timebank feature becomes an integral part of the timeout feature. If my memory serves me well the timebank feature was meant to be a lender of last resort in case of an emergency such as a sudden decision to go away for the weekend, a holiday or when you fall ill. Of course this will stimulate people to choose shorter time out periods, and as a result of that play will naturally speed up, but this is only a consequence of the new feature. It was never meant to be the main reason for implementation. The main reason was to avoid massive time outing in case of holiday or emergency such as illness and the subsequent fall of the ratings.
Yes, people can play 3 day timeouts without having to worry about being timed out constantly. So there is no reason to play anything other than a 3 day timeout. The fact is that you are better protected against a sudden timeout with a 3 da ...[text shortened]... lus the rate of play will not be allowed to stagnate excessively.
Originally posted by ivanhoeNo, I think you are mistaken. I seem to recall that speeding up play was a prime factor in the adoption of the timebanks, being at least equal to the desire to cut down on timeouts.
In this way the timebank feature becomes an integral part of the timeout feature. If my memory serves me well the timebank feature was meant to be a lender of last resort in case of an emergency such as a sudden decision to go away for the weekend, a holiday or when you fall ill. Of course this will stimulate people to choose shorter time out periods, and a ...[text shortened]... ting in case of holiday or emergency such as illness and the subsequent fall of the ratings.