From: Colin Paul Adams COLINA DEMON CO UK> Date: 19 apr 2000 Subject: Re: Time controls >>>>> "Pieter" == Pieter Stouten SHOGI NET> writes: Pieter> The clock apparently had not beeped to indicate byoyomi, Pieter> but this could not be reproduced after the game when the Pieter> clock did beep. However, what if it could be reproduced? Pieter> I would still rule the result stands as it is the players' Pieter> responsibility to verify that the clock works before they Pieter> start. Or is it the organizer's responsibility? And what Apparently the clock was working - since it indicated the time clearly. Beeping should only be regarded as a reminder to the player (I regard it as a damned nuisance - a distraction) at best. It is the players responsibility to see how much time (s)he has left. Pieter> Although the above result stood as I had initially ruled, Pieter> I proposed to the FESA ratings officer not to count the Pieter> game for Elo rating purposes. That was acceptable to both Pieter> players, but wasn't that inconsistent on my part? Yes. The time element is part of the game, and if one player has the much better position, but loses on time, then this is because (s)he has played to slowly. Conversely, the other player with the weaker position has used his/her time to better effect (or maybe (s)he played TOO fast and just got lucky). I win games (in general, mostly Go) on time quite often (more than once a year the flag falling actually determines the game), as I play fast. Because I tend not to use all my time, my opponent has less overall time and this tends to accentuate his/her problems. Therefore I take full credit for the win on time, as I have helped to bring it about by the pressure I have exerted on my opponent (hopefully with the pieces as well as fast playing). An extreme case occurred in the 1997 Münster Chu Shogi tournament - in the last round, I was playing Roland Marounek. The game had been a see-saw affair throughout, until the endgame was reached. Roland was in byo yomi, and I was playing quickly to try to keep the pressure up on him. This time it wasn't working, and it was I who was making mistakes. As a result, I had a hopelessly lost position, and would have resigned if it had not been byo yomi. Then Roland, mis-understanding the system of beeps in use on the clock, failed to make his move by about 1/2 second. It would never even cross my mind in such a situation to talk about calling it a draw, or not counting the game for grading purposes (we don't have a grading system going in Chu Shogi, but it's the principal that counts). Overlooking the time remaining is on the same par as overlooking your Dragon King is en pris. And who amongst you would think of calling it a draw (in a tournament game, casual games are another matter) if that happened? -- Colin Paul Adams Preston Lancashire