Time control for lightning games

  

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Thibault de Vassal    (2012-01-16)
Time control for lightning games

Hi all,

I've been told that 1h + 15 sec./move (freestyle cup time control) would be better for lightning games than 20 min + 30 sec./move

As I don't want to create another advanced chess category (no good name, not useful), I'd like to know how many people among players who tried it think that such a change would be a good thing.

As for me, I'm not so favourable to such a change, my point is: 1h + 15 sec. means that you'll have to wait for your opponent 1 hour before he plays his next move! That is quite long, particularly to win no point, and you could even lose the game if your opponent comes back just before the end... That's why I prefer 20 min + 30 sec. per move, that is in average as long as the freestyle time control.

Any opinion?


Garvin Gray    (2012-01-16 14:52:58)
Time control for lightning games

The current freestyle time control is 30 mins plus 15 secs, btw.

I do not like the 20 mins + 30 secs, so do not play with that time control. I would prefer 60 mins plus 15 secs.

That being said, Thib, can you please confirm that the original suggestion was about the lightning time control and not the blitz time control.


Thibault de Vassal    (2012-01-16 15:19:52)
Time control for lightning games

Right, 1h + 15 sec. was the 1st Freestyle Cup's time control. And yes this is about the lightning time control only.

Maybe 30 minutes + 15 sec. would be a good choice also so we have 3 choices :

1) 20 min + 30 sec./move
2) 30 min + 15 sec./move
3) 60 min + 15 sec./move

Which one would you prefer (and why?)


Alvin Alcala    (2012-01-17 10:26:08)
Time control for lightning games

I would go for:

60 min + 15 sec./move because it's the most popular time control for freestylers. Plus this time control more than compensate for the lack of hardware fire power to compete.

However, the current blitz time control is far too long, if you will observed the number of people who played the blitz time control is very few for the period of two years. So I would suggest to change this time control to 60 min + 15 sec./move for blitz and change the time control for lightning 30 min + 15 sec./move.

We can run a poll to see the choice of the other members.


Garvin Gray    (2012-01-17 13:22:41)
Time control for lightning games

I think for blitz a better time control would be 40 moves in 2 hours followed by 30 mins plus 30 secs per move (basically the zonal type time control).

For lightning I would prefer 60 mins plus 15 secs. Couldnt a time out factor be put in that if a move has not been made in 30 mins then the player loses? This would cover no shows.


Thibault de Vassal    (2012-01-17 14:46:40)
Time control for lightning games

For Blitz 40 moves in 2 hours followed by 30 mins plus 30 secs per move is not possible... For now I can only set a time, an increment and a number of moves for the increment. What about 1 hour + 30 sec/move or 1 hour + 1 minute/move, that would be much faster already.

For lightning, IMO 20 min + 30 sec/move is still best but if other players prefer 1 hour + 15 sec/move or 30 minutes + 15 sec/move, I'll do the change.


Alvin Alcala    (2012-01-17 17:00:32)
Time control for lightning games

I agree changing the blitz timing as Thib suggested 1 hour + 30 sec/move for blitz and lightning to stay the same at 20 min + 30 sec/move. The most I'm concerned about it the current blitz time control which is too long, changing it is necessary.


Scott Nichols    (2012-01-17 17:52:37)
Time control for lightning games

To me, the lightning control is about right, but the Blitz is way to long. The original Blitz time control (which I can't remember) was much better.


Thibault de Vassal    (2012-01-17 18:35:26)
Time control for lightning games

The time control of the first blitz games played here was 2 hours + 2 hours / 40 moves, which is quite the same than current one.


John Schutte    (2012-01-17 19:19:01)
Time control for lightning games

I agree with Scott and Alvin, I don't have enough time for lighting longer than 20 or 30 with 30 increment, except maybe an occasional weekend, so I probably will give it a skip if increased. Keep the lighting and shorten the blitz.


Scott Nichols    (2012-01-17 21:48:55)
Time control for lightning games

Hmmm, I didn't remember it being that long, :) But, I definitely think it needs shortening, maybe 30 moves per hour, not sure.


Wayne Lowrance    (2012-01-17 21:58:10)
Time control for lightning games

OK Guys, here is my choice after reading all of the postings.
Blitz: 1 hr + 1 min/move
Lightning: 30 min +15 sec/move


Garvin Gray    (2012-01-18 09:09:05)
Time control for lightning games

1 hour plus 1 min per move from the start is ok by me for blitz


Thibault de Vassal    (2012-01-20 15:56:48)
Time control for lightning games

Ok, I've made a first change, time control for blitz games is now 1 hour + 1 minute / move, let's see how it works.