From: Andrew Lipscomb <ewwa <at> CHATTANOOGA <dot> NET>
Date: 12 nov 2002
Subject: Re: A cultural difference?

> Hello,all
>
> I have played many times in competitions with sudden-death
> style.(What do you say in english?) And each time I see
> players(including me)
>strugling to push clock button,I feel this system is against
>spirit of Shogi.

I don't consider it to be very much in the spirit of Western chess
either. (BTW, the term in the USA is "sudden death," while FIDE,
the international federation, says "quickplay finish.")

>>  I thought that the director just
>> > felt
>> > it was probable that your time was up first. Because,
>> > if your oponent's time was up first you shoud have claimed
>> > first.
>>
>> Have you understood the case properly? There were only seconds
>> left for both players. Then you do not have time to look
>> constantly at
> the
>> clock.
>
> Please don't take me wrong.  I just speculated what the
> director may have thought. You said you saw a second after the
> guy's declaration. While playing in this system and when time
> is running out we are
> forced to CONSTANTLY check the clock..A second is long time
> then.

FWIW, at one time (before current rules were adopted), an official
interpretation did recommend the ruling that was made here, on the
basis that what happened was almost certainly the following:
1. South's clock runs out
2. South hits the button, starting North's clock
3. North's clock runs out
However, in any sudden-death, time-delay, or add-on chess
tournament now, the rule is indeed both flags down -> draw. (If a
multiple time control is in use--like the traditional 40-in-2h, 20-
in-1h--then the next period begins and you play on.)

>> > And when your
>> > oponents declared your time was up,you should have checked
>> > the
> clock
>> > immediately
>> > and should have claimed he was wrong.
>
>> That was exactly what I did. My opponent was not wrong. My
>> time was out, but so was his time. That is the issue.
>
> Now I understand why this may be a cultural issue.The western
> 'chess' culture and Japanese one.The lack of the detailed rule
> is prety common here.In this case also,basic idea is 'honor'
> system.Participants are required to judge on their own.
> Anyway,I agree there should be the rule in place like chess.

That, or use only digital clocks that "freeze" as soon as one
player's time is up, preventing the situation from ever occurring.