vacation



FICGS - Search results for vacation





There are 239 results for vacation in the forum.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-08 13:10:47)
Things to be implemented...

Hello to all... and thank you for your confidence in this very new server (when no game started yet ! maybe today...)

I expected a high average rating, but not so much :)

The last update provoked the first bug -> in this forum. Sorry to all who tried to post here. It should work now.

Here are things to be implemented in the future :

- Vacations (until, time limit by move is 2 months)
- Conditional moves
- A better interface for the forum...

Don't hesitate if you have ideas to improve the website !


Best wishes.


Hannes Rada    (2006-04-08 19:06:49)
Vacations

The most important issue to be implemented is imho the vacation. I think otherwise many potential players (me included) will be prevented from joining a tournament. How many days a year would you allow ?


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-08 19:18:26)
Vacations

I think 40 days for vacations is right. What do you think about ? (it may depend on tournament category, ie. rapid tournament shouldn't allow vacations)


Hannes Rada    (2006-04-08 19:32:44)
vacations

40 days is fine for me. I've 31 days leave in a year and I ususaly use them all for travelling and visiting foreign countries. I had no experience with rapid tournaments on the cfc - server. However they also allowed 40 days in a year. Maybe otherwise many player would not participate. I for one had to go several times on business trips for a few days and in this case it would risk losing games in a rapid tournament if there is no possibility for taking leave.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-08 19:59:22)
Hannes

CFC rapid tournaments didn't allow vacation (and start clock was 10 days, not 30). Anyway, you have 2 months to play a single move (if your clock is over 2 months, of course)


Per Lea    (2006-04-08 23:03:27)
Vacations

In this modern world, not even travelling abroad will stop you from being able to play: you will probably find an internet cafe near by. Or you may have internet access in your hotel room, or if you visit business colleagues, they will probably give you access to a PC. Too bad if you're TOO dependent on Fritz, of course, but....


Per Lea    (2006-04-09 11:50:32)
Vacations

OK, Hannes, you're right. When you leave "The modern world" my comments no longer apply... And, by the way: I fully support the idea of some sort of "vacation". After all, not everyone is obsessed with chess 24 hours/day. There are other valuable things in life as well! Often, it can be fun just to relax, and forget all about difficult middle-games, irritating colleagues at work and the disappointments of your local football team and just go away - to Vanuatu (wherever that mey be)


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-12 09:53:48)
Rapid tournaments

Formula for rapid tournaments is 30 days (because players could be in vacation while the tournament starts) + 1 day / move


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-14 17:08:26)
Answers...

Hello Håkon. Some answers :

1. Maybe try : Preferences -> Notification checkbox
2. Right, other players already asked for this. Now you have 2 months to play a single move, so few chances to be late. The council will discuss about vacation option before to be implemented.
3. Some players asked these informations not to appear in the list to reduce it in size, so you can check this just by clicking on the games. ("when last move was done" : right !)
4. For website design reasons, I can't display many informations on the same page. I don't think flags are essential, but it will probably be implemented anyway !


Hannes Rada    (2006-04-14 19:34:41)
Vacation

I agree with Hakon's proposal. In my opinion the possibiliy to take leave is absolutely essential. Happy Easter !


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2006-04-15 16:46:29)
Vacation

I agree with Hannes. And I would like to take a leave in one or another but not necessarily in all of my tournaments.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-16 09:25:33)
Implemented & vacation

Hello to all.

Cookies, last move & board coordinates have been implemented. Thanks !

Still thinking about vacation, but it doesn't seem obvious to me that it is essential. There's objectively no difference between "vacation" & time for move... Rules on other servers are often a bit hard and to manage vacations is something more to do (and not so easy when you have few time). I would prefer not to hurry players and allow a 2 months time limit per move (= 1 month + 1 month leave by default) Quite more flexible. (!?)


Hannes Rada    (2006-04-16 09:52:16)
time and vacation

>There's objectively no difference >between "vacation" & time for move... >Rules on other servers There is a difference. If the player does not have the time on the clock, because he is involved in many tournaments .... I think we should start a poll about this issue.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-16 10:12:09)
Right

You're right, Hannes. That's different. In a way, we should call this "reserve" more than "vacation". So it only depends on rules -> depends on council. Not sure it is an obvious thing but anyway, we'll vote that too very soon.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-18 00:34:26)
About vacation...

Don't you think it would be more logical to allow 40 (for example) days of vacation per year and not per game ? Vacation would stop the clock for all games of the player. Seems to look like "vacation" more than a "reservoir" that doesn't really have to exist ?!


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-18 13:25:56)
Time limit per move

If a player has 60 days and more on his clock, the deadline for one move is 60 days ! This is a provisional (quite good, I think) solution before question of vacation be answered. Many players can't play every day and correspondence chess games usually last several months, often more than 1 year.

It seems server games go much faster than email games, but rules 40 days + 40 days / 10 moves are the same.

Time limit per move in IECG is 30 days. Here, a 60 days limit (a rating period) don't seem too much to me. Players won't feel oppressed (Glen, turn email notification off :)) and I think they won't use it often.

RAPID TOURNAMENTS are an alternative solution.

Thibault


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-19 19:13:56)
Vacation implemented

Dear chessfriends, a major update on FICGS : Vacation has been implemented. You now have 30 days leave per year (for all games !)

Be careful using it, as days can't be took back (or vacation stopped before the end date) by playing a move for example. But you can add days to your vacation simply taking days more. You can play while you're in vacation, the days leave you take are simply added to your clock for all your running games. A message tells your opponent you're in vacation in the viewer page.

Also please note this new rule : Time accumulated is now limited to 100 days ! (taking effect at your next move) The 60 days limit per move is kept for the player's convenience.

Have good games !


Hannes Rada    (2006-04-19 22:58:34)
starting date and ending date

Thank you Thibault, But how can I define the starting date and ending date of my vacation ? I can only specificy the number of days.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-04-24 11:21:14)
Bug...

About vacation, an error has occured with the backoffice. Vacation turned back to 30 days for all. Fortunately not heavy consequences, as just one or two players took days already. It won't happen again as the sub-admin backoffice will be installed today.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-07-05 20:45:31)
Vacances = plus de temps

C'est normal, en cliquant sur l'une de ses parties il est indiqué qu'il est en vacances jusqu'au 19 juillet :

"Jari Laine ... is in vacation until 2006 July 19"


John Knudsen    (2006-07-06 06:41:08)
Leave/Reflection Time

Hi Thibault: I understand this now - thanks. And I like the limitation on accumulated reflection time - this is a great idea. Still, the stated reflection time was given as 30 days +1 per move, and when you are on leave, you are not moving. To award an extra day reflection time on days that you do not more (i.e., vacation) is not logical at all. Your reflection time should remain unchanged from the day that you last moved. Any smart guy that has not used leave, and is running out of time on his games will just take his 30 days leave, and presto - he has 30 days more reflection time. This possibility, by itself, makes the reflection time a joke, in my opinion. John


Stefano Ghisi    (2006-07-08 16:19:14)
Vacation (change)

I took 7 days from 10 up to 17 july but i've to change my period how can i do? (i have to take from 17 up to 31 july)


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-07-08 17:37:33)
Vacation (change)

Hello Stefano... That's not possible. (see rules & thread below).

http://www.ficgs.com/forum_read_144.html

Anyway, it won't change anything to your clock as days have be added already (works like a "reservoir"). You can play all month long if you want.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-07-10 02:04:36)
Vacation and reflection time

Hi John, Glen & Heinz-Georg. Thanks for all suggestions... ;)

Some responses, particularly about vacation (towards a compromise ?) :

* 30 days + 2 days/move : Not "beautiful" (not a joke, it is design matter)

* 30 days max for one move : Not convinced it can really bring something... if a player want to last a CC game, I think no reasonable rule (without human factor) can prevent him to do so.

* 14 days + 1 day/move (rapid) : As players don't know exactly when tournaments will start, I think 30 days at start (ie. compared : email tournaments often start before the real date) is a good choice to avoid accidental forfeits during holidays !

* 2 weeks annual leave : Even for different time controls, I'm not favourable to make too many different rules.. 30 days (for all games per year) is a balanced choice IMO.

* Vacation : Ok, I make note of this. I was not favourable to any leave system, cause it's obviously a way to have days more in time trouble, even if time is frozen ! .. That's why I made it "hard" to use.. If players can stop their leave when they want, just by playing a move, it becomes easier to manage time trouble situations. The 60 days rule for 1 move was a solution avoiding vacation IMO but we discussed it already... Now I'm to decide to change the vacation rule, as John (& you) urged me. I thought it was a good thing not to prevent players to make moves during the leave... Maybe most think different, ok... However I have a problem yet with vacation as it's really a way to get more reflection time... Here is what I suggest, simply a harder rule : Players who take days leave CAN'T play during their vacation and CAN'T take days back (stopping their leave by playing a move) ! Then 2 options, players must wait their vacation end date to play again, or they can play, but provoking the cancellation of their leave (loosing the days leave taken and not used yet).. Maybe it won't be appreciated in some particular cases if players have to modify their plans, but the aim is clearly to reduce the vacation effect on the game... What do you think ?


Glen D. Shields    (2006-07-10 15:21:09)
Sounds good ....

Thibault - thanks for the feedback and your openess to make changes in the vacation rules.

It's important to get some of these rules right while the player list is still relatively small and the players are still geting use to playing at FICGS. It will be harder to make rule changes in the future.

The 100 day maximum you set on accumulated time establishes FICGS as the trend setter in how to manage modern correspondence chess games. Excellent decision! Much of the problems people talk about in time control are prevented by the addition of this rule.

I'm sure you are aware the IECG has a 30 day maximum per move and the ICCF a 40 day maximum. The IECG limit is firm. You exceed 30 days once you lose. The ICCF's rule is unclear and unevenly managed. You reach 40 days, you need to beg the TD to do something. Sometimes he helps, sometimes he doesn't. Not a good situation.

Whatever limit you set at FICGS, I recommend you keep it firm and automatic like IECG. Personally I prefer 30 days, you prefer 60. IMHO 30 days is plenty of time to make a move is someone is serious about playing. 60 days is too long to wait. My preference is to make the rules enjoyable for those who want to play, not for those who sign up and then get "busy" and rudely make their opponents sit and wait. IMHO you'll attract and keep a better membership base by making the rules player friendly, not player annoying.

Thanks again. My best to you.


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2006-07-10 20:06:15)
Vacation and reflection time

Hi Thibault

Vacation seems to be a great problem on all chess servers. The way you manage it is very special. I don't think, that your way is "hard to use". Of course you can always abuse vacation to have more time in time trouble. But your way is very easy. Take 10 days of vacation and play on. And at the end of a year add the not consumed vacation to the reflection time of all of your games.

Now you suggest that a player can not play during his vacation. That is ok. But if the player starts playing during his vacation "loosing the days leave taken and not used yet" is not ok. "Maybe it won't be appreciated in some particular cases". Too much and unnecessary administration. Let the server work.

You don't want to give up your concept (adding vacation time to the reflection time), am I right? You already have announced the corrections on "My messages". If you must change your concept, you would have to rewrite parts of the software.

Nevertheless I would like to say how I imagine the vacation rules on my "perfect server".

I can make the following things with my 4 weeks of holiday:

- If I'm on holiday far away from home or don't like to play chess for a while, I can take a leave in all tournaments.
- If I have much work (sorry - I had to earn money and my employer doesn't take it into consideration, that I would like to play more chess) and can't take care of all tournaments for a while, I take a leave in single tournaments. If the overload is past, I play on without losing the vacation which I perhaps haven't taken.
- I cannot take a leave in a rapid tournament. That is ok - rapid means rapid. There shouldn't be any way to get more time for reflection in this kind of tournament.

It's a pity that no more players express their opinion on this topic in this forum.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-07-11 02:18:11)
Vacation and reflection time

Hello Heinz-Georg.

Of course I'll change the software, that's not a problem. What is important is to find the best solution to this issue... Time will be frozen during vacation.

There are several other ways to make it harder to use. Maybe it could be interesting to have no choice (or less) on the numbers of days you can take - ie. only 10 days by 10 days.


Santos Agustin    (2006-07-22 10:41:56)
Bug in vacation section

I d'ont understand why a player that has vacation can answer the moves on the board. If you visit for example Iecg then you can see that if you are on vacation then is blocked the option of make moves.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-07-22 12:03:53)
Vacation rules

This is not a bug, but the rules will change on 2006 august 1st !

See this thread :

http://www.ficgs.com/forum_read_599-Leave.html


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-08-01 12:43:00)
Vacation : Time frozen !

Hello to all.

A major update : Clocks are now frozen during vacation. It's no more possible to play during this time. Please note you cannot cancel your vacation ! (but you can add days of leave)

This change should make harder vacation time (30 days per year) to use, and reduce the effect on the time controls.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-08-03 20:35:24)
Vacation : Update

Hello to all.

You may observe irregular clocks according to the new vacation rules during a while (some players may still have more time than "possible"), this is not a bug but a consequence of the change on 2006 august 1st) for players who took days leave, particularly in july.


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-08-24 14:01:52)
Re: Premove (conditional moves).....

I think such issues as CONDITIONAL MOVES & VACATION TIME ALLOWED are sure to be debated in the future too. Some sites allow conditional moves , some don't. Some sites allow vacation time of 30 or 30+ days per year per tournament (and sometimes even special leave), some sites don't. These issues are sure to be hotly debated for a long time.


Halil Kiren    (2006-09-27 19:24:38)
My vacation (BUG)

I am currently using my vacation time..so I can't make any move..But the thing is my clock is still working and I'm losing my games ..I want the administrators to find a solution to this.I have lost a game because of this so far and I'm about to lose one more...i lost game 2036 ..and.. game 2006.. my clock = 1 day 02:12:02..what will i do??


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-09-27 20:17:26)
Vacation & time limit per move

Hello Halil.

Unfortunately, this is not a bug :/

Here is the message you may have read just before you confirmed your days leave :

"Make sure you have no pending moves for more than 30 days before taking days leave, as the time per move clock is still running during vacation." (time per move clock is the one between brackets)

Rules 11.4 : "Any move in any game shall be played in a maximum period of 60 days, otherwise the game will be adjudicated on time."


You did not play any move in game 2036 for more than 60 days. Actually, you did not play any move for about 40 days when you took your ~20 days leave. The aim of this rule is to avoid too long delays for a single move. Usually, 30 days is enough...

Anyway, I send you an email about this problem.

Best wishes. Thibault


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-10-26 15:07:40)
Re: I cant move

You're not in vacation, so that's really strange. I just sent to you an email to fix this problem.

Best wishes.


Ryaad Aabid    (2006-11-16 09:28:27)
Suggestion

All openings became known nowadays. If the opponents ends the openinig step, the clock will automatically be changed from 30 or 40 days to 7 or 10 days. If the player has no time enough to visit the website during 7 or 10 days, he/she should take vacation, otherwise to leave! instead of bothering his/her opponents. Thank you Thibault, Ryaad


Sebastian Palozzi    (2006-11-21 15:53:22)
Vacation Help

Hello All, I've entered a vacation period in error. Is it possible to cancel the vacation? Please advise, Regards, Sebastian


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-11-21 19:44:09)
Vacation cancel : Not possible...

Hello Sebastian.

To cancel vacation is not possible, sorry. Because time is frozen during vacation, time virtually added to your clock may differ according to who played last move (you or your opponent), so it's quite difficult to take it back. Sorry about that :/


Mladen Jankovic    (2006-12-07 14:02:00)
The reason

I'm currently entertaining the idea of signing up for yet another waiting list. With the Big Chess tournament in progress and being signed up for the WCH, I belive it would be too much if I signed up for another one. Maybe something like a waiting list vacation. Sorry about giving you more work.


Marius Zubac    (2006-12-16 02:51:34)
Vacation clock frozen, with 1 exception

Hello Thibault. Before I requested my vacation I have captured all the situation of my running games including the number of days. The clock is frozen for all games except my game 2932 from FICGS_CHESS_CLASS_SM_000002 against Mr. de Silva. Initially it was 51 days. Today I looked again and is 49. Maybe there is a bug somewhere. Please look into it. Thank you. Best whishes for the Holliday season, Marius


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-12-16 03:09:51)
Vacation clock frozen, no exception !

Hello Marius.

There is no bug ! ... Your clock is : White clock - 54 days 17:50:44 (49 days 13:26:08)

So clock displayed in ie. My games is your 'time per move' clock !

Rules 11.4 : Please note the time limit per move clock still runs during vacation. Take your days carefully, as it's not possible to take back or displace your leave dates. However you can add days leave.

This rule avoids someone to take more than 60 days for only one move...

Best wishes for your holidays :)


Pablo Schmid    (2006-12-22 01:08:47)
Vacation

"You have x days leave remaining for year 2006" Ca veut dire que le 1er janvier on reçoit tous nos nouveaux jours de vacances?


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-12-22 11:18:16)
Vacation

Right, you can take your x days leave remaining until december 31.

On january 1st, everyone will have 30 days (no more, there's no addition !) leave for year 2007.


Graham Wyborn    (2006-12-25 01:22:17)
Can I cancel vacation?

Can I cancel vacation? If so, how.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-12-26 14:46:10)
Can I cancel vacation?

Hello Graham.

It is not possible to cancel vacation :/

Sorry about that.


Graham Wyborn    (2006-12-29 14:28:09)
Could this be changed?

Other sites allow you to go on vacation and cancell or return early. Could you make this possible on this site? I would not have booked such a long holiday if I had known I could not cancel it. Now I have withdrawal symtoms as I cannot play on this site until my hoildays ends.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-12-29 14:48:31)
To be continued

It has been discussed already, my conclusion was vacation had to be hard to use enough, in order to reduce influence on time controls, ie. a player shouldn't be able to take days to think more time when having difficulties in some games and cancel his 'holidays' after finding a solution... So it has to be discussed. Anyway, I'll add a message specifying vacation can't be canceled when taking days leave.

Reminder :


http://www.ficgs.com/membership.html#playing

11. 4. Time rules

Any move in any game shall be played in a maximum period of 60 days, otherwise the game will be adjudicated on time. Time accumulated in a game can't exceed 100 days. Please don't call referee since you see your opponent's clock 'Out of time', you just have to wait a few hours a robot automatically adjuges the game.

Please be aware that it's possible sometimes your internet provider or a point between the server and you may block the connection between the server and you. Even it's a rare thing, it's strongly recommended to always have several days left at your clock. No result will be reconsidered or time added due to such a technical problem. No time will be added due to any problem during a period less than 1 day long.

It is possible to take a maximum of 30 days leave per year, called vacation. During this time, clocks are frozen and it is no more possible to play, in order to reduce the effects on time controls.

Please note the time limit per move clock still runs during vacation. Take your days carefully, as it's not possible to take back or displace your leave dates. However you can add days leave.


Pablo Schmid    (2007-01-01 00:25:19)
Vacation 07

Happy new year Thibault and everyone. Could you put the new vacation for this new year today please? :)


Thibault de Vassal    (2007-01-01 05:18:51)
Vacation 2007

Done ;)

Happy new year !


Thibault de Vassal    (2007-01-02 15:21:20)
Vacation

Sorry about that, Graham. That's right, rules are quite hard here, simply because many players asked for these changes. Result is satisfying IMO, but I've to clarify some points yet.


Graham Wyborn    (2007-01-03 00:12:41)
I'll stop moaning!

It appears to me that the "hard rule" re vacation is to stop players wasting time or using time in a mischievous way. All it has done for me and my opponents is waste time that could have been used wisely. This is the only site that I use that applies such hash rules, I wish I had seen the earlier correspondence on this matter, as I would had voiced my opinion then, but now it is too late. Anyway, thank you for the replies. I will stop moaning and look forward to the end of my vacation which will be on January 10th about 4 am!!


Thibault de Vassal    (2007-01-28 22:25:51)
holidays

That's possible... Taking his last days for year 2006 on january 1st (just before I reset vacation). Now consuming his days for year 2007


Phil Cook    (2007-04-25 06:03:35)
Virus

Bad news this end,got a little gremlin in my system,,I'll be outta action till Sunday 30 April 2007 All players I'm playing,Sorry unavoidable,I've enough time to carry me for that period,so wont take vacation.


Thibault de Vassal    (2007-06-26 01:04:56)
Vacation : 1 month / year or 6 months ?

Hello to all.

I've been told that the 30 days leave per year rule was a bit hard (at least harder than ICCF rule). For several reasons, it wouldn't be possible to have 2 months per year but 1 month / 6 months would be ok.

I'm not so favourable to such a change, but I'd like to know players opinion. (please respond if you're not favourable to this change also :))

Thanks in advance.


Alexander Shalamanov    (2007-06-26 08:38:12)
Vacation

As to me, 2 or 3 months would be fine. This way players wouldn't be put into a corner, especially when one plays a lot of games. Cheers, Alexander


Wolfgang Utesch    (2007-06-26 09:20:54)
Vacation

In my opinion there is no need to change. The argument, then players can play more games in same time can be countered by if they play less games they can speed up their moves. Already in the current situation most time won't be spended for finding best moves, but for stretching lost games!


Garvin Gray    (2007-06-26 10:03:35)
vacation

The current amount of time is fine. On this site you can't play while on vacation.


Nick Burrows    (2007-06-26 14:23:32)
vacation

1 month seems fine to me. most players seem to build time in their games anyway, so if they are away some days over their allocation it should very rarely cause them damage.


Miguel Pires    (2007-06-26 18:23:36)
Vacation

Hi, I ask to Thibault to discuss this in the forum because, like Dinesh De Silva have sayed, you can have a some sort of (i don't have a better word) problems that make you postpone your games. In ICCF at any tournament you have 30 days/vacation for ich tournament. My problem is not with the tournaments with 10/40 Days are in the 30+1. In this first 6 months i've a lot of issues to solve (professional and personal thing's) that i've to postpone a lot. Now thing's are more or less calm, but if we have more time or the rules are equal to ICCF my new tournaments can have 30 days, and if i need to postpone now i can't postpone the oldest and the new tournaments because i've not more days. I now that is the rules but i think more time (Like Gamknot) or the same rule like ICCF can help a lot. Another idia is do like (i think) IECG or IECC, that if you need a special live they can give you that (i think if you have someone in the hospital, important biseness to a long period can feet in the "special leave"). Is only my opinion. Best Regard's Miguel Pires


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2007-06-26 21:41:21)
30 days / year is enough

I think 30 days / year is enough.

If you fear that you could get time problems don't play too many and avoid Rapid tournaments. Nobody forces you to enter every waiting list.

And according to Murphy's Law "such things as computers breaking down, computers hit with viruses, business travel commitments, planning a holiday etc." always happen if you have no more vacation.


Thibault de Vassal    (2007-06-26 22:04:29)
Rapid tournaments

I agree that rapid tournaments (30 days + 1 day / move) may be quite hard for some players, but as Heinz-Georg and Wolfgang said, it's up to you to choose the tournaments that fit to your available time.

WCH tournaments are quite hard to play the same way, but that's a condition to start a new cycle every 6 months and adding days of vacation may last important games and force some adjudications. That's why I'm not favourable to this change.

But I agree, that's quite hard not to enter certain waiting lists too... (it's a fight of every day) :))


Dinesh De Silva    (2007-06-27 07:26:44)
Re:

It seems someone is trying to force issues by always trying to be confrontational. Any player who tries to be high & mighty & aggressive is surely unstable. What people like I & Miguel Pires were doing is just making a suggestion & making friendly debate. Maybe there should be a poll to determine if the vacation period should be increased or not. It's all upto Thibault, of course. Whichever way he decides, we as players would accept it in a friendly, calm, peaceful manner, unlike a very few who try to impose their will on matters by thinking they are ALWAYS correct..


Glen D. Shields    (2007-06-27 12:52:12)
Keep it at 30 Days

I've been in the situation many times of too many games and too little time to keep up. Admittedly very stressful, but I have no one to blame for getting into that situation but myself.

My preference is to keep vacation at 30 days per year. Today's fast pace requires players to be diligent about managing their game load. Giving players more vacation time adds to the time it takes to finish tournaments and makes it even harder for players to manage game loads.

My personal belief is that when I sign up for a tournamnet I'm making a commitment to play my games at a regular and reasonable pace. If I am regularly finding myself with too many games and often wishing for more vacation time, then I think it is my responsibility to plan better and make better personal choices rather than inconvenince everyone else.

Just my opinion :-)


Miguel Pires    (2007-06-27 13:24:11)
Glen D. Shields

"rather than inconvenince everyone else"? Is it for me? If is, i'm going to try to explain to you whay i ask to dicusse the vacation time. Is not because i've to many games (if i've 2 or 3 i syaed the same thing) is because i fell that 30 days is short. In Gameknot i've 120 days, in ICCF i've 30 days per tournament, soo if i enter in a new tournament and i need to postpone i can chose what tournament to postpone. In my opinion is a short time but if the comunity don't whant to change, men ask don't cost anithing, correct? If this is "inconvenince" for you men sorry but for me is not. Regard's Miguel Pires


Glen D. Shields    (2007-06-27 14:38:26)
Miguel Pires

Miguel - my comments were meant for everyone not just you.

I happen to think long vacations are another way for players to shy away from the committment they made to play. When my opponent takes a vacation and I am ready to play, then the honest fact is he is inconveniencing me while he is away. I accept that inconvenience as part of the game. I would not be happy having opponents have more than 30 days so they can inconvenience me even more. The time rules are slow enough to allow anyone who has other commitments to take time off and still keep their games going. If outside committments are just too great, than IMHO a player should not sign up to play until they have more time to committ to their games.

These comments, like my other ones, are made for everyone not just you.


Thibault de Vassal    (2007-06-27 14:50:19)
+1

I must say that Glen's argument is very pertinent. The more vacation, the more games, the more difficulties... Quite logical, and I don't say that for you Miguel as it's probably a mechanical effect. Anyway I agree with you that a few more days would give a welcome breath, but as Wolfgang said, time is a part of the game, that's life. Sorry if you felt a bit of irony or cynicism in our posts, I suppose it was difficult to avoid it to justify our opinion...

Best, Thibault


Garvin Gray    (2007-06-27 17:28:50)
another few days


This site gives 30 days per year. Those are the rules.

I can understand that some players might want a few extra days per year vacation, but where does it end.

If it was to be extended to 40 days, then I am sure some other players would just argue that a few more days above that dont that much of a difference over the 40 days.

If there was to be an increase to 40 days, maybe it should be 20 days per six months, so a player cant take over a months vacation in one straight hit.



Jason Repa    (2007-07-09 09:03:58)
vacation

I would prefer to leave it as it is now. 30 days/year.


Thibault de Vassal    (2007-09-21 22:00:03)
Tie Breaks

There are 8-games matches since the very first round, so this extra delay would happen each round (1d+1d/move means at least 4 months, also add vacation) :/ I think too long cycles is a problem. With the current formula a complete cycle (including the final match against previous winner) lasts 2 years and a half. If we add tie breaks, it could last between 4 & 5 years and more players may forget to play next rounds... I don't feel it, definitely.


Thibault de Vassal    (2007-10-24 18:43:25)
FICGS server change

FICGS should be unavailable on 2007 october 28, maybe 29 also because of a server change.

Of course, all running clocks will be corrected !

1 or 2 days of vacation for everyone :)


Thibault de Vassal    (2007-11-23 01:07:30)
IECG server

I'm sure that Ortwin makes his possible and clocks will most likely be corrected.. We should consider this time as free vacation :)


Garvin Gray    (2008-01-01 14:10:15)
vacation

Why cant you take a free week? You just need to put yourself on vacation for a week, which is located on the left.


Thibault de Vassal    (2008-01-01 15:18:38)
Vacation

Hello Ulrich, it should be ok now... (30 days)


Dinesh De Silva    (2008-01-07 11:30:35)
Re: holidays and forfeit

"Verily I say that Viktor is a Victim of his own Vacation which is a long Voyage taken Voluntarily, due to non Visits that will cost him Victory!?"


Michael Aigner    (2008-01-07 14:03:08)
Possible to stop the clock?

I do not know if Viktor did not know his clock will keep running during his vacation - but if so and this would be the reason he is ging to loose his games,i would prefer to stop his clock and keep him playing the tournament. Nobody has anything to win when he is loosing on time because he did not know this (slightly unlogical) rule - but to loose a chance to play a very strong player and an interesting tournament. Would this be possible - OK with all other players of the tournament - OK with Thibbault - OK with Viktor ????


Thibault de Vassal    (2008-01-07 14:54:59)
Possible to stop the clock

Ok, definitely I have to update this feature right now, but the 60 days limit per move should remain IMO, so it won't be possible to take too many days of vacation according to the clocks (or the player will be warnt that he'll lose some games)...

Well, if all players in the tournament agree to stop Viktor's clock, I'll arrange that.


Peter Schuster    (2008-01-07 17:05:55)
Stop the clock

My opinion is, that we stop his clock and continue the game after his vacation. I hope that all players agree with this.


Thibault de Vassal    (2008-01-07 23:07:41)
Vacation : Update

An update is to be installed : It won't be possible anymore to take too many days of vacation provoking the loss of any game without being warned of this.

I agree that vacation could be implemented in a more simple way, but no move should take more than 60 days and it could be possible with a 30 days limit per move and the clock per move frozen during vacation. Anyway, we'll see how it works...


Andrew Stephenson    (2008-03-28 18:57:10)
time per move

Thibault the time per move rule and vacation rules need to be changed as they create a ridculous situation. Example you have under the time per move rule 10 days (but 20 toal days) left and without thinking take 11 days vacation - you have resigned the game! the game is lost because you cannot cancel the vacation and cannot move!! This is an easy mistake to make becase the my games summary just shows the total moves left, This seems harsh and you should at least allow vacation to be cancelled at any time I cannot see any down side to that.


Patrick Richardson    (2008-03-29 14:27:52)
Vacation days

I would tend to agree. If one has to worry about ones clock, whether one would lose a game(s) after the vacation. Then in my opinion that would not constitute a vacation. A vacation should be just that.


Thibault de Vassal    (2008-03-29 18:35:09)
time per move / vacation

Hello Andrew. This issue has been fixed a few months ago, all clocks are verified, if you try to take 11 days vacation in this case, a warning message in red appears... also the My games summary shows the time left for each move taking account of the time per move rule, so it should be ok... But I'll add a note in the vacation page about this.


Andrew Stephenson    (2008-03-29 21:36:49)
time

Hi Thibault whats the cut off point for the warning? Does it just show up if the vacation exceeds the time left or within 1 day? Can the vacation time leave you with 1 minute or 1 hour for your move? I am wrong about the My games time - it does show the time to move time - sorry!


Thibault de Vassal    (2008-03-29 23:30:05)
time

It shows up if vacation exceeds the time left only... So yes, vacation time can leave you with 1 minute :/ I'll make an update tonight this way. Thanks for raising this point :)


Andrew Stephenson    (2008-05-06 15:01:06)
A bird in the hand

I think comparing f4 to b4 is quite reasonable - they are both off beat openings. On the question of chess knowledge I do not know how much he knows about b4? It can also be a dangerous practical weapon and can pose the black player more problems than f4. It is played by serious professional chess players in tournaments eg GM Christian Bauer (2626) has played it several times successfully this year and quite a few IM's regularly play it with success. Now to comparing rating sizes something I confess to not having done since I was in short trousers. My current rating is 2225 with a future rating of 2247 but with 2 rapid games in the pipe line this should be a future rating of 2300 + shortly lets see. Mr Repas rating is 2281 with a future rating at the moment of 2316. How significant is that? Well I had the opportunity to look at his games to see what his rating is made up of. 10 of his wins have come against the same opponent Sandor Porkolab and in 7 of these Mr Porkolab abandoned the games in level, drawn or in some cases better position for him. Given that in these "wins" he was often rated over 2100 or in one case over 2200 this has boosted Mr Repa's rating significantly. He has not so far had much success in WCC not having got past stage 2. As reference to my loss was made I can say that this was in a variation (the Prins of the sicilian) that I believe is unsound. Actually I overstepped the time limit while on vacation although I think the game could not be saved I learnt my lesson and do not play dodgy openings any more. I have never on the other hand been busted after 17 moves in a main line opening at cc as sadly Mr Repa found himslef against Bucsa Loan (Game 1249),then rated 1700. Then again I have stopped trusting the books and analyse for myself. Still less could I imagine being lost in a cc game after 16 moves in an exchange French (by tranposition) An instructive loss to Torsten Opas ( game 4388)- won with simple developing moves - worth playing over. Incidentally proves what I was saying about the exchange french it can be dangerous - although not of course, at cc. Finally there is Mr Repa's pet Bird shot down by Mr Kotlyansky in the approved way as follows 1 f4 d5 2 Nf3 g6 3 e3 g7 4 Be2 Nf6 5 0-0 0-0 6 d4 c5 7 dxc5 Qc7 and Black was fine winning in 72 moves. Never having lost with f4 did not include this because I suppose it was a bullet bronze game. I am afraid I am naive enough to think that people play chess on the server to win and increase their rating - clearly there are people who play to learn and strengthen their game and for whom results and rating are secondary. No doubt such people would not be interested in anything so vulgar as comparing ratings. Neverthe less its all just opinion and we are all free to express it within the rules of the server. So: f4 is a waste of time at cc little more than an invitation to draw and the From is unsound and almost like resigning.


Normajean Yates    (2008-07-04 16:02:52)
basic question re vacation

the faq says on vacation that : <<Vacation : 1. During [vacation], your clocks are frozen and it is no more possible to play, in order to reduce the effects on time controls. 2. Please note that the time limit per move clock still runs during vacation [...] you can add days leave during this period.>> Can someone make it clearer what point 2 means? Thibault?


Thibault de Vassal    (2008-07-04 22:43:41)
vacation

Hello Normajean,

Point 2 means that no move will be played in a period exceeding 60 days, even if you take vacation (otherwise you lose the game on time). However, when you take vacation the program will warn you if you take too many days, ie. if you have 20 days in game xxx but if you did not play a single move for 55 days (actually since your opponent replied) in this game and if you want to take 10 days of vacation, a message will appear in red before you confirm.


Michael Sharland    (2008-07-15 20:12:15)
Wouldn't work anyway

If your opponent wanted to stop you they could just push you up against the time limit on one of the games as the mirroring player would always use at least a little more time than the opponent. Once the player has to pick a move, the opponent can diverge. Each player would than have a big time advantage in one game but that wouldn't be a big deal at these controls. Only a vacation balance advantage would allow this idea to still work against determined opposition. Usually, a better stategy is to diverge at the point where you can play a significantly better move than the opponent used and try and win at least one of the games while holding the other.


Thibault de Vassal    (2008-07-25 19:35:48)
Caire - Utesch

I'm waiting also.. Many players are in vacation these days :)


Andrew Stephenson    (2008-07-26 13:30:44)
Good quotes

"Leaving sex to the feminists is like letting your dog vacation at the taxidermist." "If civilization had been left in female hands we would still be living in grass huts." "There is no female Mozart because there is no female Jack the Ripper" - hmmm And finally a self evident truth: "Woman is the dominant sex. Men have to do all sorts of stuff to prove that they are worthy of woman's attention." Obviously all these quotes are from a woman :) How do you like them apples??


Benjamin Block    (2008-08-18 08:52:18)
Try to translate!

I think it is something like that?
Hello Xavier and first congratulations on your victory in the match which t'opposait the MI (ICCF) Gino Figlio [Peru] in the final candidates. You should avoid at all costs void in all parties, finally brought blacks t'ont chance, how do you explain this result? X
avier: Hello, thank you for the congratulations. It is true that in case of zero for all parties, the regulation states Figlio winner in the event of a tie with victory (s) and defeat (s) I won the match. So I had to take risks in attacking and it is with blacks that I did it because I thought Gino, in these parts, expected without taking risks to ensure the void.
-- Can you tell us about how you approached this match against Gino and his conduct as different phases of the game?
X: It's pretty simple, in this match I was not at all favorite because with more than 200 ELO points FICGS to my disadvantage, and Gino titled Master International, with more than 2480 ELO ICCF point, I thought I n ' not resist going on 8 simultaneous games as a part everything is possible but on 8 parts ... it was for me a great challenge! In the course of the game I played diversity in my beginnings with white 4 parts 4 different strokes: 1.e4 1.d4 1.c4 1.Cf3. Gino did the same: 1.e4 1.d4 1.Cf3 1.Cc3. What made me doubt also because 1.Cc3 surprised me, I thought he had planned an early tonitruand and this is where I said that I should take risks with blacks. As the different phases of the game I assured the zero positions balanced for me concacrer deal has two parts, one with blanks and one with the black for at least make a difference in part to ensure victory. And ultimately it 3 victories me back, which seemed impossible given the quality of the game Gino played on this site to reach the final of the championship candidates.
-- You have made during a championship course without fault, no losses to report, you also posters statistics stratospheric to 78% against an average elo to about 2200, what's your secret?
X: My secret? I have no secret. If I had a secret I do not dévoilerais if I do win more! I think I got a little lucky because he is required by little I am not qualified to stage 3 (round-robin final) because there were 3 players equally and I had l 'advantage classifying the departure of this tournament as indicated by the regulation. As for my statistics, it is also thanks to the errors of my opponents who allowed me to win parts in balance.
-- What do you think the system mid-ko, semi-all-round championship FICGS and its new départages in matches in 8 parties? What changes would it be?
X: Very good question! The system mid-ko for me is a little too fast since a coup by day is overtime analyses to operate a complicated position, which is difficult when several parties in progress. Especially when you work. It is perhaps also through this pace that my opponents lack of time, made some uncertainty regarding postions or exploited my mistakes. But the pace has an advantage over the cadences ICCF which is 5 days a coup is that the parties had to 5 times less time! The départage new games to 8 parts is excellent, forcing the favorite to ensure all matches to nil win this duel and otherwise obtain an additional victory against the challenger is a very well thought out. The amendment that I could make is perhaps time management which is fast for a game system per server. Perhaps increase the clock starting 15 days, starting with 45 against 30 days at this time. And also the possibility of taking a vacation only on the tournament underway to manage other parts of the site. For example, take 7 days vacation on a chess tournament championship and be able to play a tournament Big Chess, Go or another chess tournament during the holidays. Being able to choose a start date of holidays in advance would also be appreciated.
-- Why t'être invested in correspondence chess? T'apportent there are other rewards compared to traditional chess and blitz?
X: I prefer chess match over time. For the classical chess is often play the weekend at a specific time and often on the move to make a tournament. The advantage for me, correspondence chess is that I can connect at any time to play my shots, which allows me, for example, making family meals on weekends and late at night to play a coup, which is not possible chess classics.
-- You knew not to succumb to the temptation and you only play a very reasonable number of parties on the site throughout the championship, do you think nevertheless that the correspondence chess are addictive and at what point? Did they affect your everyday life?
X: Yes! Limiting my number of games in progress is essential for me to try to have parts of quality rather than quantity. Have a lot of parts simultaneously is still something very difficult to manage! This is perhaps the key to my victory against Figlio, I watched its games in progress, it had nearly 90 on the site of the ICCF, it has been felt on his time devoted to analysis our parties on FICGS 8. On the everyday life impacts are family because it is true that I spend more time to analyze the parts and less time with my family, which is quite difficult for me. But when the results are there I do not regret!
-- What do you think about the current position of engines for analysis (Rybka, Shredder, Fritz and others) in correspondence chess? What are the qualities you complementary core player by correspondence, now centaur with the machine for legs?
X: The engines of analyses in chess matches are used by 95% of players ... Now we must adapt and learn to use these machines to calculate. Car simply play the best shot of Rybka 3, Fritz 12 or Hiarcs 12 mentally without thinking leads to zero if the opponent does the same or possibly lose if the opponent gives himself the trouble to consider using them as well. Knowing that when you're in the middle part of these programs give you often 4 to 5 strokes assessed similarly, and that is that we must choose the right time when it is not even necessarily cited by the analysis engine ...
-- You get the Big Chess now on the site, curiosity or interest? What do you think of this strange version of chess?
X: For curiosity and fun and I think Rybka 3 is not yet the Big Chess! This version is almost unprecedented I did not know this form of chess before therefore the one who invented this game was very well done! About I'm the one who asks you a question on the Big chess ... Is there possibility of castle with this game if so, how? (Editor's note: No, it is impossible to castle the Big Chess)
-- And finally the question that everyone arises, especially Francis and Wolfgang disputing that the second final candidates, think you can defend your title next year? :)
X: of course! I will defend the title! I would like if possible to know the timing and pace of the match. And I wish Francis and Wolfgang a beautiful final! I must honor in this competition which is well organized!
-- The match should be able to start during the first week of January 2009, the pace will again 30 days and 1 additional day by coup. Thank you for your answers, and even congratulations for this excellent performance!
X: Thank you! And see you! Bonne continuation to all and good parties!


Andrew Stephenson    (2008-08-23 09:07:33)
Wasted time

I understand the point about 5 players being a small group but I used up my holidays trying to beat Janos what would have happened if the game was a draw who would have been invited?? Janos twice offered a draw and frankly the only reason I did not accept was because I followed the rules and believed I needed to win to qualify for the final. How were you going to determine who to invite?? You knew that this situation was going to arise from the moment stage 2 started as there were only 4 groups and 1 M group there could only be 5 winners. Not only that but when I raised the issue of Marcs earlier partcipiation in round robin final I actually stated that this time as we will have 5 winners then the sitaution would not arise the group is complete so no invitations arise and in your reply you agreed I do not see why it is too late please comply with the rules as you have no right to invite other players in the rules do not allow it. Saying the administrators decision is final is saying you can suddenly change any rule at any time for any reason. I now face 6 opponents instead of 4 without any vacation time.


Don Groves    (2008-10-04 04:27:29)
Silent withdrawals

Silent withdrawals could be taken care of by having a 10-day-per-move rule. If a player does not make a move in a game within 10 days and is not on vacation, the game should be forfeited to the opponent and the forfeit rules should apply as to whether the game is rated or not. Maybe a 7 day limit would be even better.

We all dislike silent withdrawals. This rule would end those games sooner and also may eventually stop players from starting more games than they can handle.


Marc Lacrosse    (2008-10-30 20:29:24)
To Don : better "fast" correspondence

If you wish a faster but still really "correspondence" play I would recommend the following : 7d + 1d/move with a maximal time capital of 7 days (anything over 7 days is cut off).
No vacation allowed during course of the game (or vacation pause not working for these precise games so that you may take leave for other kind of competitions but still need to play in these ones).

I am ready to play any kind of test games/tournaments at this timing.

Marc


Normajean Yates    (2008-10-30 21:27:23)
what I *really* miss is 1 move/month...

Wish there was a site with one move / month, one week increment after every move, max 400 days vacation every decade...

It will have health benefits also - I mean you may be a B up in the middlegame and opp may have no counterplay, but you have to maintain good health to live long enough to deliver checkmate! :)

Preferably, resignation should not be allowed in such a format :)


Normajean Yates    (2008-11-02 05:15:50)
does vacation 'freeze' scoring?

One opp of mine is going to time out within 23 hours. I desparately need a vacation from chess, but I don't want 'unfinished business' hanging. So, if I go on 15-day vacation say 5 minutes *after* opponent times out, will the game be still shown as won by me within 1-2 days? Or will the recogition that the game has ended [in a win by me] be also 'frozen' for 15 days i.e. until my vacation is over?


Normajean Yates    (2008-11-03 05:43:35)
vacation bug?

I have gone on vacation, but in Game 21702 it is opponent's move - and opponent's clock is still moving!:

Normajean Yates ... is in vacation until 2008 November 7

White clock - 98 days 01:11:33
Black clock - 94 days 15:34:05 (59 days 23:22:32)


and now:

Normajean Yates ... is in vacation until 2008 November 7

White clock - 98 days 01:11:33
Black clock - 94 days 15:32:46 (59 days 23:21:13)


So opponent's clock has decreased from 94 days 15:34:05 to 94 days 15:32:46 !


Normajean Yates    (2008-11-03 07:15:32)
It is *really* a bug. Not a feature.

[see my previous post in this topic] Suppose opponent and I both have only 10 day left, it is opponent's move -- and I go on 11 days vacation. Now what is happening is that opponent's clock is running! [example - see my previous i.e. starting post for this topic] but as the game is *frozen* opponent cannot move! So opponent will lose on time!

So, it IS a bug [unless opponent can now move if I am on vacation. But then, this rule change has not been mentioned in the help, faq etc. --

from 'terms and conditions - 11.4 (time rules)':
"Vacation : It is possible to take a maximum of 30 days leave per year, called vacation. During this time, your clocks are frozen and it is no more possible to play, in order to reduce the effects on time controls. "


Volker Koslowski    (2008-11-03 11:05:33)
Bug?

I don't think that there is a vacation bug. It ist still possible for your opponent to make his next move (if it is his turn) even if you are in vacation.

As far as I can see Rule 11.4 does not say that you and your opponent could not make any move when you are in vacation. It only says that all your clocks in all of your running games will be frozen and it is not possible for you to play further until your vacation is over. In order it is not possible for you to cancle your vacation, or take only a vacation in one special tournament you play.

Maybe Thibault could say more about this...


Normajean Yates    (2008-11-03 21:49:42)
oh ok :)

I see. In Rule 11.4 (vacation section) "it is no more possible to play" is to be interpreted as "it is no more possible (for the side on vacation) to play" .... fine!


Normajean Yates    (2008-11-04 12:13:13)
0h sorry [to rodolfo] :)

Oh sorry - brain tooo fatigued - thats why I am on vacation. Even 4 queens on 4x4 has solutions: a2,b4,c1,d3. [unique upto symmetry -I THINK], Isnt the 5 queens solution also unique up to symmetry? Or can all solutions be obtained by rotation, reflexion or combination of rotation+reflection; of a1, b3, c5, d2 and e4? [JUST DONT FEEL LIKE THINKING IT OUT - BRAIN HAS SHUT OFF...]


Normajean Yates    (2008-11-11 17:34:36)
or, God has timed out because...

Maybe God has timed out because God forgot to go on 'vacation' officially? ;)


Scott Nichols    (2008-12-15 02:07:23)
Agree to this.

There should be a class for faster players. Too many players use a vacation to delay the inevitable defeat. They should know--"There is no dishonor in resigning", the dishonor lies with the person who just cannot admit defeat.


Normajean Yates    (2008-12-15 05:02:07)
to Scott Nichols

"Too many players use a vacation to delay the inevitable defeat"

Too many people use healthy lifestyle, medicine, careful driving etc. to delay inevitable death :-)


Normajean Yates    (2008-12-16 15:47:26)
llmars I agree to play as black, ok.

But I am going home on yearend vacation (and also chess vacation!) I am posting and old rebel10 v rebel10 game in the next post.


Normajean Yates    (2008-12-17 15:23:46)
I only asked him to resign because..

he might not know that he has to resign!

Thibault I see the psychological truth of your observation - thats why I was interested in precedents/conventions! - but Salinas is 40+ years old - such childish behaviour! [Do *some* *men* never grow up? ;)]

I wanted this to be complete because I am doing year-end closure of things... including putting these games into scid. It was annoying that I had to edit it to show 0-1 instead of unfinished!

Thanks for the adjudication --- if it wasnt yearend - vacation and festive time approaching - I would not have bothered you [I think :)] ..


Normajean Yates    (2009-01-01 13:01:53)
0 days in 'my vacation'

and it is only 1 january! how? Where is my 30 days vacation time for this year? :)


Andrew Stephenson    (2009-01-01 20:02:58)
Vacation - "Each january 1st, ......

the server sets the number of days to 30 for all players." Not so far! Thibault does it happen at the end of January 1st?


Thibault de Vassal    (2009-01-01 21:47:33)
January 1st

Everyone now have 30 days of vacation again ;)

Happy new year !


Normajean Yates    (2009-01-01 22:37:28)
'has' is the convention..

'everybody has' is correct.

'everybody have' would suggest [better with comma - like 'everybody, have'] - that *usually* ficgs doesn't give vacation time, but you are giving a one-time gift of vacation time, only for this year. :)


Normajean Yates    (2009-02-01 09:55:59)
poker is NOT interfering with chess..

Players that are *choosing* poker over chess (as posted by some as reason for delay on moving, delay in tournaments starting...) are either not *that* interested in chess anyway, OR it is a transient phenomenon - they are trying out poker as a novelty.

We are humans, not dedicated chess-playing machines.

If someone takes longer to move because of poker or anything else (whether the 'anything else' is related to this site or not, whether it is related to the internet or not); it gives me either more time to analyse, or effectively more vacation time, so I see no reason to complain.

If poker generates revenue for ficgs, it will help ficgs survive and so it will help ficgs chess (and go) survive.

The point is, whatever choices we make have to be made taking into account that we are embedded in a capitalist economy. We are not living in some anarchist utopia.




Denis Ivanchenkov    (2009-03-29 13:54:47)
Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff

Hello Heinz-Georg,
>I answered to a question of Samy according to Big Chess.
>There we have four rooks :)
>You should try this great game :)
oh - I see the point! :)
yeah - I'd love to try big chess game - though i need a bit more free time - maybe in summer vacations? this must be fun and combinationally more intensive game ! :)


Don Groves    (2009-04-08 06:58:42)
Time control

My suggestion is still the same -- have an intermediate time control for some minimum number of moves in a given period. For example, at least one move per week when not on vacation. I feel that if a player cannot make one move per week, they must have too many games for their available time.

For Poker, it should be even more moves per week since there isn't nearly as much to analyze at each move.


Don Groves    (2009-04-15 02:01:35)
Time controls

In all FICGS games, I think there should be an intermediate time control to prevent silent withdrawal, or what you call the "dead man defense."

If a player cannot make at least one move per week when not on vacation, the game should end.

If fewer than ten moves have been played, the game would not count in the ratings.


Thibault de Vassal    (2009-06-08 22:29:42)
Vacation : now 45 days per year

I think that it will be a good news for most of us !

As it seems that many players have problems with the rapid time control, mainly in championships, and as the championships period has changed (more than 6 months if necessary), I decided to change the days of vacation per year to 45 days instead of 30 days previously.

This should avoid some games to be lost on time and a few players to forfeit all their games because of the time pressure.

This change applies immediately, so everyone now has 15 days of vacation more.

Have a nice time :)


Garvin Gray    (2009-06-09 06:02:27)
change to vacation policies.

I know this has possibly be discussed, but would it be possible to change the vacation policy so that if a person comes back early from vacation, they can cancel the rest of their vacation and start making moves.

The current policy of not being able to make moves while on vacation would still apply.


Normajean Yates    (2009-06-09 08:09:58)
re Garvin Gray' suggestion - abusable..

Cancelling vacation is abusable - player pretends to on 20-day vacation; actually returns suddenly next day - when finds opponent busiest and so on, .. to upset opp's schedule and focus. So, if cancelling-vacation is introduced, I think there should be conditions/consequences. [e.g. if you take 7 days vac. and cancel after 3 days; then 7-3=4 days are added to opp's clock - incl. the 60-day nextmove clock.]


Daniel Parmet    (2009-06-10 15:58:21)
vacation cancel

why not allow cancelling vacation period if you say take '4' days or just allow cancelling vacation max of one day early. There is many times where I go out of town for 5 days and it ends up being 4. I rather let my clock run and move on the 5th day then lock myself out for 5days completely. Letting us cancel vacation one day early would nice.


Normajean Yates    (2009-06-11 11:32:11)
Daniel's suggestion is reasonable..

Daniel Parmet's suggestion is fine: in fact for more than 14 days vacation (say) cancellation up to 2 days early could be allowed..


Klearchos Loukopoulos    (2009-07-24 18:01:32)
vacations question

Hi all,

I just took a vacation but when I see my games I can still see the clock ticking and removing time available. Is that normal?

Cheers,

Klearchos


Thibault de Vassal    (2009-07-24 19:53:29)
time per move

Hi Klearchos,

This is normal as the max. time per move is always 60 days even if you take days of vacation (to avoid too long delays for a single move), but your total time for the game is frozen.


Charlie Neil    (2009-08-22 11:23:40)
Vacation Time on Ficgs

I am confused about what is the point of booking vacation time, as the "game clock" will keep running. Can someone explain to me please.


Thibault de Vassal    (2009-08-22 15:08:37)
Vacation Time & 60 days limit per move

Hi Charlie, it is explained when you take some days of vacation :

Rules 11.4 : "Any move in any game shall be played in a maximum period of 60 days, otherwise the game will be adjudicated on time."

Note : The time per move clock is still running during vacation.


Anyway, it's not really convenient to remember so I'll add it in the Help section.


Milos Budnar    (2009-10-31 09:38:36)
vacation time

Is taking a vacation time during the world championship allowed? Miloš


Thibault de Vassal    (2009-10-31 13:18:45)
vacation time

Hello Miloš, yes it is allowed, as in any tournament but while playing a bullet/lightning/blitz game.


Milos Budnar    (2009-10-31 16:32:14)
vacation time

Thanks William and Thibault,
There was just the diction "All games during the whole cycle are played in 30 days + 1 day / move" which confused me. Now, I am relaxed about that. Milos


Philip Roe    (2009-11-06 03:54:51)
Luck is the residue of design

Nick, I did not know that one. It is quite splendid and I thank you for it.

But it may not be Milton. I tried to look it up and quotation sites attribute it to a poem of his called "At a Vacation Exercise in the College" However, it does not occur there, and the Yale book of quotation credits someone called Branch Rickey in Sporting News, Feb 21 1946. A rather different source.

See http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/quotes-uncovered-who-worried-about-events/


Nick Burrows    (2009-11-06 06:56:01)
"At a Vacation Exercise in the College"

Hi Phillip. I had a look around also, many sources site the quote as being wrongly attributed to the baseball player Branch Rickey.
The poem itself was written in Latin & English, then finished with lines of prose which are usually not published.
The quote is said to come from this prose and not the main body of the poem.


Thibault de Vassal    (2010-03-07 20:35:54)
Great day for FICGS (and for me :)) !

Hello all...

As you may know, I built the major part of FICGS with a 33 kbps (actually more looking like a 5 to 8 kbps) broadband which is very very slow, even slower than the prehistorical modems... Internet is definitely not a priority in the french campaign (by the way, looks like nothing is not a priority anymore in the french campaign)

Since today, I've got 2 Mbps anyway (thanks to WiMax and Powerline technologies), which means several things :

- Regular freestyle cups (finally !)
- New improvements more regularly.
- I can play advanced chess :)

After a few days of vacation, I should be more active on the server, definitely :)


Robert Mueller    (2010-04-11 09:12:03)
Match Against Rybka Forum

Thibault, I see there is going to be a match Rybka Forum vs FICGS. They are recruiting eight players to play individual games against FICGS members. Who is going to play for FICGS? Do you still need a player? I would be interested in playing, but I will be on vacation from May 8 to May 15.


Thibault de Vassal    (2010-04-11 15:20:48)
Match Against Rybka Forum

Hi Robert, I'm not sure yet if there are so many members at Rybkaforum interested to play (actually it looks like the most are FICGS players until there), but if it can motivate them, let's try to build a team already :)

Vacation would not be a problem as a long time control should be the option but there is no rule well defined yet. However the rules will probably look like the ones used in FICGS vs. Igame.ru

The thread at Rybkaforum is there :

http://rybkaforum.net/cgi-bin/rybkaforum/topic_show.pl?tid=16132

Do not hesitate to post here and there if you're interested to play such a match!


Don Groves    (2010-05-09 05:01:36)
How many games at once?

Vacations take care of life getting too busy to play. The other stuff is a matter of opinion. Ours are different.

I have no problem with taking 10 days for a juicy decision, but some here take several days for almost every move! That becomes too much.

Another thing that happens is that when a new tournament begins, one player may let his clock go red before he starts to move in a game. Then he will play one move per day to avoid losing on time, but the other player must wait for several weeks before the game begins. Is this fair?


Thibault de Vassal    (2010-05-11 15:25:54)
A suggestion

Hi Don, of course that's very feasible but I just drastically optimized the My games page so that it displays faster (it seems to work, the number of SQL requests went in average from about 30 to 2).

A consequence is that one can see if a player is in vacation on this page only if it's his turn in the game, maybe that's not definitive but I have to make this test and observe how the server reacts.

I'm not sure if your suggestion is really useful (maybe for those who hide the challenges form) but it would be kind of bonus, so if I can do it while avoiding too many tests, why not. For now, I prefer to let this page as it is.


Wayne Lowrance    (2010-10-24 22:57:48)
Strong Tournament at Rybka Forum

Jimmy I am following your progress. I continue my interest in the Tournament. We have discussed my thoughts via PM, but to review here are the things of concern to me. First I do not want to overload my chess obligations in Tournaments I am involved with at FICGS now. I have a hunch that a Start date at or shortly after the year will work out provided it is possible to have no more than one (1) game running at a time.
Other features of interest to a lesser degree are management/monitoring of matches to make sure that excessive time outs are infrequent. A player should not be allowed to go on vacation so to speak during a match. In the event of hardware problems a player should have to live with the timer obligations and not making a unfair match delay.
Player ratings could be considered in pairings. Somewhat like board seeds. Top rated sits at board #1 etc.
I think this can be sorted out easily. Your have excellent inputs from others such as Vytron etc regarding timer details. 2 days/move sounds good to me Jimmy.
So continue your good work, I would be proud to participate god willing.
Wayne


Thibault de Vassal    (2010-10-30 21:32:50)
Strong Tournament at Rybka Forum

Jimmy, will you apply strict rules during the tournament? What happens if a player suddenly takes 2 days, then 3 days, then 4 days for each move? Will there be a flag applied by the forum software or by the tournament director?

As there may be obvious problems in both cases, I'm really curious to know how you'll handle it. Also will players have a few days of vacation?


Thibault de Vassal    (2011-02-17 12:15:42)
request again tour

Stressful, for the least... In my opinion such tournaments are quite inhuman but I'm not sure if I could resist to play it myself :)

Anyway there may be a few points to discuss yet... With the use of the current vacation system, such tournaments may last a few months in the worst case.

I agree with Kamesh that Freestyle tournaments should probably be the priority, by the way I'll open a new thread for the next one soon. Finally the main difference is that round-robin tournaments don't ask any work (or so few) from my own, but I just wonder how many players are ready to play this format.


Jimmy Huggins    (2011-04-29 19:39:52)
WBCCC-New stuff and Round 2 Update

Well promotion is going to be important. And I have been talking to some people about it and seeing what I can and should do. After this tournament is over, there is a good chance we will have a top tier freestyle event after that. It will be before WBCCC II. It will be a good way to promote a nice tournament. I know a some of the FICGS players would like to play in such a tournament. As far as OTB GM's maybe lol. :) I think getting more titled players form ICCF, here, and other sites is possible. I have about 5 to 6 sources I will promote heavily. Add a couple of others. I'm going to be ambitious and say we can get 60+ players in next year. And maybe more. It will be a great 6 round tournament next time. Since it will probably go the whole year. I will try and add something for vacation time in there. If we go over by a month or something. That would be oh ok.(For WBCCC II) and thanks for the compliment. :)


Thibault de Vassal    (2011-10-11 11:30:51)
Opponents time

Hello George, the problem is double: there isn't place enough on the page, and the page would be much longer to calculate while taking account of vacation for each player. Sorry :/


Timothy Cookson    (2011-11-02 14:42:47)
Vacation Question

"-Timothy

A question for you Thibault, I have just started a 5 day vacation but my clocks are still going down.

--Garvin

Tim, questions like yours should be asked in the forum we can give more complete answers there.

--- Thibault

time per move clock is still running during vacation so that no move exceed 60 days..."

And what if I lose on time during a 5 day vacation?


Thibault de Vassal    (2011-11-02 15:30:56)
Vacation Question

You must have been warnt before that you take vacation days that you had only x days to play your move in the specified game.

Well, in this case the game should be lost... Feel free to send me a private message about the game.


Peter W. Anderson    (2011-12-15 17:16:25)
Holiday

It seems to be within the rules for people to take lots of small holidays in quick succession. At the end of the year, this can be used as extra time on the clock - work out all your replies whilst you are on vacation, wait for your holiday to finish, play your moves, and put yourself on holiday for another day or two.... and just keep doing this over and over again and your clock will go up rather than down!

I would like to suggest a rule change for the Rapid games: every time you put yourself on vacation you lose a day on your clock for all your games. It does not completely solve the problem but it helps.

It has the downside of people who really are about to go on must make sure that they have at least a day on each clock. However, in my opinion the benefit outweighs the disadvantage.


Don Groves    (2011-12-16 05:33:38)
Holiday

I think some portion of a person's unused vacation should carry over into the following year. Accumulated vacation time (>30 days) would help protect against severe illness or accident and would also possibly reduce the practice of taking many short vacations at the end of the year.


Thibault de Vassal    (2011-12-16 21:53:37)
Holiday

I noticed that in case of an accident or illness, the player does/can not take days leave... :/ I did not find the perfect rule there yet...

Changing from 30 to 45 days of vacation was a significant step towards this direction.


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2011-12-17 00:48:16)
Holiday

Everyone should be able to use his vacation in the way he wants / need it. I see no reason to change the rules.


Daniel Parmet    (2011-12-17 07:37:30)
Holiday

I agree with Lehnhoff. No change to vacation should be done! Bad vacation rules are enough reason to quit playing on corr sites. Ficgs has good vacation rules.


Garvin Gray    (2011-12-17 13:17:47)
Holiday

Thib: I noticed that in case of an accident or illness, the player does/can not take days leave... :/ I did not find the perfect rule there yet...

Garvin: I am not sure part of the above was a quote from someone else, but anyways.

I think if a person has timed out some gaems through accident/illness and was unable to put themselves on vacation, then if they send a copy of their medical certificate to you (Thib), then that should be acceptable to get games re-instated, or time re-instated if the amount of time lost was substantial and in your opinion could cause some difficulties.


Costantino Proietti    (2012-03-24 09:03:40)
Slow tournament entries

I suggest to limit the vacation period to 30 days in a year with a maximum of two vacations in a month.


Daniel Parmet    (2012-04-21 01:48:03)
Slow tournament entries

FICGS strengths:
Free
Well Managed
Friendly
Well Programed
Easy to Navigate
User friendly
Great rules
Great vacation settings
Great Time controls
Great variants / choices

Problems:
Lack of players
Lack of ability to play stronger players.

For all the awesome things here.... the one weakness makes it hard to continue to find people to play.


Thibault de Vassal    (2012-07-28 00:10:50)
FICGS IS BACK !!!!!!!!!

First of all, I've added 15 days to all players in running games because of the delay and the fact that many of us may have no access to internet during the summer vacation (this time is added to the 46 days, 13 hours and 20 minutes since the crash for players expected to play), this issue was discussed at Rybkaforum, of course it may be unfair to few players in certain games where their opponent had few time but I did not find a better balanced solution, sorry about that :(

Among other consequences, the current championships cycle will last 10 months instead of 8, and july correspondence chess ratings will be updated very soon.

Well, how to start... fortunately such an event is rare but possible, and following the Murphy's law, it happened (first time for me), the server's hard disk crashed and the least I can say is I've not been lucky, even if I obviously did some things wrong.

Of course I had enough data at home to rebuild all games until a few hours before the crash but I thought it was worth it to pause the server during a few days/weeks to recover more moves, and if possible ALL moves. I really hoped that it would work and at the end it did, but not completely... for unknown reasons. I had also other data to recover from the server, including some FICGS data that were not backuped correctly (my bad), because I did not think far enough 6 years ago when I coded the first FICGS scripts... That will be fixed very soon.

So, because the DDrescue process did not work -unlucky- just after the crash, my server provider (OVH in France) had to send me the hard drive and it took sooooo much time already :/

Then I tried to recover some files and the databases by myself and I learnt much on how to save a hard drive but each process was really long, it took several days again...

Finally none process completely succeeded, few sectors of the hard drive remained unreadable and unfortunately the FICGS database is divided into very numerous parts written everywhere on the disk.

At the end, I brought the disk to the very best professionals able to save it... the process was quite long again and it did not completely worked as well, for an unknown reason the current database was still not readable but they did much better than me at the end.

Finally the whole process was worth it, but I did not expect it could take so much time.... 46 days, 13 hours, 20 minutes. And that's a shame :(


Of course, I could have used a RAID 10 server, I was not favourable to this choice because it is not 100% safe as well, I don't know it enough and it's much more expensive. I'll reconsider it though.

But the other things I did wrong are clear anyway, I lacked of experience in such a situation and most important, I'll do now better backups also on another server every hour. Next time (if any), we'll lose at most 1 hour of moves but the server will be able to restart within 1 day.

One thing is sure, internet was really empty for me without FICGS during this long month and a half and I missed our tournaments too much so that happen again! Have no doubt, FICGS would not have stopped in all cases but once again I'm really sorry about that and all consequences... I can only hope that you'll enjoy your games as before.

Thanks for your understanding.

Best regards,
Thibault


Thibault de Vassal    (2013-03-10 16:34:51)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Hello all,

It seems that the current vacation system can be used in various ways to recover days at the clock while it is not particularly dedicated to.

We have 45 days of vacation per year, it is now possible to leave 45 times 1 day.

An idea could be to take a minimum of 3 days while there are more than 2 days remaining. Thus one could leave a maximum of 15 times.

Any opinion on this possible change?


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2013-03-10 17:12:40)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I'm against this change!


Thibault de Vassal    (2013-03-10 18:29:58)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

It seems just more realistic this way, why are you against this idea?


Neel Basant    (2013-03-10 18:37:47)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Thib you are right.About 3 games are saved due to that.My opponents took advantage of that.


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2013-03-10 18:41:09)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

It should not be the role of rules to regulate my use of the leave. If 45 days is too much, then reducing the number of days.


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2013-03-10 18:43:00)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

To Neel: You can also take advantage of it :)


Peter W. Anderson    (2013-03-11 13:30:40)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I think this would be an excellent change.


Daniel Parmet    (2013-03-11 13:45:25)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I think this is a terrible change.


Garvin Gray    (2013-03-12 16:15:46)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I think the main question here is: What is vacation meant to be used for?

The original premise for vacation time is that it is in place for people who go away on vacation or are sick and need some time off without having to risk timing out to do so.

This means they can still enter a tournament without having to worry about timing out or being at such a time disadvantage.

This is the purpose of vacation time.

It is not meant to be used to allow players who have chosen through their own choice of time management to avoid timing out games.

Therefore the rules should be changed to match the intention of vacation time.

Hence the proposal of a minimum of 3 days vacation and that it can not be used at all once a player gets under 3 days initial time.

Also, I would probably add that there should be a limit to how many times a player can take vacation blocks, but this might be hard for the server to calculate for each game a player is involved in.


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2013-03-12 17:38:02)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

At work I can take a single day off, but not in my hobby? That sounds strange ...


Garvin Gray    (2013-03-13 09:46:51)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Not quite the same Heinz. If you repeatedly took one day off, especially if was every second day or so, then there would be questions asked.

Same thing here.


Daniel Parmet    (2013-03-13 13:28:44)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Not true Garvin. It is the same thing. Work will even allow you take half days off - no questions asked. Maybe we should move to 12 hour increments?


Thibault de Vassal    (2013-03-13 13:42:07)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Not an easy topic after all... Well, right now I think that 1 day is more "natural" or "intuitive", at least an easier rule but it's true that vacation can be used to help in some games. Let's see if others have an opinion on that.


Jose Carrizo    (2013-03-15 16:28:10)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I'm against this change. One day minimum is OK.


Garvin Gray    (2013-03-16 11:09:33)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I am wondering if everyone has read each of the replies before posting.

I am sure some have, but I do suspect that some have just replied without considering the consequences of their replies if they were enacted, or not.

Instead of changing the minimum days for vacation to 3, how about there is a maximum cap for the number of times a person can take vacation in any one single game?

This would prevent a player from repeatedly using vacation just to avoid timing out, which is not what vacation is designed for.


Rolf Staggat    (2013-03-17 15:09:17)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

45 days are 45 days are 45 days are 45 days.
Why make another rule how to use them ?
Shorten or cancel the vacation, but do not make anything more difficult.
When I am one day absent, then I am ONE day absent. So it works on ICCF and everywhere.


Daniel Parmet    (2013-03-17 17:11:41)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I agree with Rolf.
I think the problem Garvin is you have to first ask if someone seems it as a problem that vacation could be used to stop from flagging. In my mind, that is a resounding no without any sort of question. Why would it be a problem is someone chose to use vacation that way?
I can't think of a single reason.


Thibault de Vassal    (2013-03-19 11:25:56)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I just received a long and detailed private message from a very strong chess player who explained how vacation have influenced some of his games and I must say it was quite a strong demonstration of the issue.

Obviously it is a problem for certain players.

I'm not really favorable to a change here as it will complicate rules and the use of the site but here are the facts:

- Vacation are just rules... vacation may mean anything. So it is ok right now.

- Is it normal to save games thanks to vacation by gaining day after day ? It is just a question of point of view but IMO the answer is no. At least it cannot be done for each game separately, which is a great thing.

So we have a contradiction here.


Finally my proposal is a change for 2 days minimum that I would install in 2 months from now.

I think it would be a fair compromise... It should reduce the effects on the games in the future and it is quite short yet.

Any opinion on this change for 2 days minimum? Acceptable or not?


Bogoljub Teverovski    (2013-03-19 14:34:11)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I'm against the change in question.


Don Groves    (2013-03-19 16:09:03)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

There will always be a loophole for some to take advantage of. Leave the rules as they are.


Garvin Gray    (2013-03-19 16:35:20)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

The easiest option is to increase the rapid time control to 40 moves initial and have no vacation.


Rolf Staggat    (2013-03-19 17:05:12)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Thib, the "very strong chess player" is a MINORITY here. If he does not want to talk in this forum, his opinion is irrelevant.


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2013-03-19 17:51:20)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I can not imagine how a player can gain an advantage from the vacation time. Ok, he can analyze his games during that time, but his opponent has the same option. So the additional time cannot be the key to a win.

In my opinion the problem for some players is that it is annoying when they have to wait longer for an answer. I don't think that this should be a reason to change the vacation rules.

If the rules are changed however, this should not happen until the beginning of next year with the new vacation period.


Daniel Parmet    (2013-03-20 00:32:02)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

My opponent just went on leave with 11 minutes left on ICCF. I don't see a problem with it. Can someone please explain to me the problem here?


Daniel Parmet    (2013-03-20 00:33:56)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Also, I have to comment on Garvin's idea. I love Garvin. He does wonderful volunteer work. He is a good player. And I've been on a team with him. But that idea is atrocious, why would you eliminate vacation entirely?! I request here and now for my account to be deleted the very second vacation is deleted.


Jose Carrizo    (2013-03-20 01:24:39)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I agree with Parmet, Lehnoff, Groves and Teverovski. Don´t change the rule, it's ok for me.


Thibault de Vassal    (2013-03-20 13:41:09)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Well, at the end the only problem may be that vacation should be specified in time controls... eg. 30 days + 1 day/move + 45 days leave per year.

Right now, vacation is actually a part of the time control.

Still thinking about all this.


Don Groves    (2013-03-22 00:49:44)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

What other reason is there for vacation except to stop your clock?


Kieran Moore    (2013-03-23 13:17:09)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

On another site vacation is divided into two blocks of 20 days.So in most games a player would only have 20 days leave. Its annoying if players use their vacation time to prevent Flag fall as Chess is about tactics and time management. Bad positions tend to cost time, so players shouldn't recover from bad positions by running their vacation days.


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2013-03-23 13:51:58)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

On other sites vacation can be taken per tournament. That's what I prefer. But I think the current vacation rules on FICGS are ok.


Daniel Parmet    (2013-03-23 15:16:30)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

So if I understand correctly the argument against vacation is wanting the flag to fall to win in a position they couldn't otherwise hope to win.


Thibault de Vassal    (2013-03-25 22:03:01)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Sorry Daniel, I did not get it... What do you mean here?


Daniel Parmet    (2013-03-26 00:00:47)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I was just translating Kieran Moore's complaint into the actual problem with vacation. People are complaining that vacation is preventing them for winning on time in a drawn position.


Don Groves    (2013-03-26 02:12:31)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Huh?


Garvin Gray    (2013-03-29 06:50:22)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I am not sure about the others, but I have mentioned anything about a board position, or a result from it.

That has nothing to do with the subject, in my opinion.

The issue is solely to do with players, who generally, allow their clocks to get very low on time, then use vacation time to avoid timing out.

There is no objection whatsoever to a player using vacation time when they go on vacation, or who needs to take a few days off for whatever reason. That is not the issue.

I only proposed a work around idea to this issue of having no vacation time at all and instead adding more initial time.

I do believe there should be a limit to the number of times a person can be on vacation in a single game.


Daniel Parmet    (2013-03-29 23:58:55)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

It was not you Garvin it was Kieran.
Anyways, I have yet to hear the problem with vacation.


Robert Knighton    (2013-06-05 20:16:22)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

If you

1. Prevent people from logging in and viewing their games while on vacation then they cant use vacation time to analyze changes in their games. This may not stop vacation abuse but it would make it less convenient.

2. Garvin Gray said "Instead of changing the minimum days for vacation ... how about there is a maximum cap for the number of times a person can take vacation"

I like this suggestion better than all others i read here.

So limit vacation to 45 days to be split as chosen by users into a maximum of maybe 20 blocks? So you could take 1 day or 5 but you cant take 1 day at a time 45 times. I suspect that 99.99% of legitimate vacation needs would not be negatively impacted by this sort of system.

I know this is a couple months old now.. just catching up. :)


Thibault de Vassal    (2013-06-06 10:21:21)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Hello Robert,

The 20 blocks proposal is very near the 2 days minimum one (I was quite favourable to this change), the real problem is that it complicates the rules and obviously many players were against it.

But late is always better than nothing :)


Michael Aigner    (2013-06-06 11:45:47)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Hello everybody,
I read the whole thread and in my opinion it is not clear what we are discussing about. The trigger for the discussion was some kind of abuse of the existing rules but I, and I guess some others too, got no idea what the problem is.

Could someone please describe how the existing rules can be used in an unfair way. Before that happened we will run in circels.


Robert Knighton    (2013-06-06 22:58:06)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

@Thibault: a 2 day minimum is bad because what if I only need 1 day this time? I must lose 2. Maybe I need 1 day only 5 seperate times and I need 40 days straight around christmas/new years.

this scenario my/Garvin's suggestion works (20 blocks split however) and yours leaves me with only 30 days for christmas/new years; just as an example.

I dont think this is complex at all.

You may take vacation up to 20 more times this year.
You have a total of 45 days of vacation you may use.

20/45
No more complex than a chess clock ;)



@Michael: I think the specific complaints were probably sent privately but I can use my imagination to come up with some possibility.

Lets say you're playing a difficult opponent in a close game in some major tournament maybe.

In order to get a time advantage your opponent goes into vacation mode immediately after you make your moves.

While in vacation mode he can still view and analyze the game without running down his clock which effectively gives him 45 extra days of clock time. This can be a significant advantage (more time = more analysis)

People can argue that it works both ways but what if the victim in this story has used his/her vacation for legitimate reasons?

Maybe the person exploiting this technique only plays a few tournaments a year to make sure he has that 45 extra days if he runs into a hard game?

As for how to solve this issue... well that is the topic of the discussion. How to prevent vacation abuse without hurting legitimate vacation needs.


Garvin Gray    (2013-06-08 04:30:30)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I think Robert Knighton has explained one of the issues regarding this issue very well. In that a player can use the vacation time to gain a time advantage, and another player who had to take vacation legitimately ie this would normally involve taking a few days to 14 days with no game analysis.

The legit vacationer gains no advantage from having taken vacation time, except they avoided timing out, which is of benefit to everyone in the long run.

The second reason why the current situation is undesirable is that it encourages players to not get on with their games. They can run their clocks down to almost zero, knowing they can use an unlimited amount of 1 day vacations to save their games. Playing inside the allocated time controls is part of the game.
Vacation time is for a reason and is not there to be abused to allow players to avoid timing out.


Daniel Parmet    (2013-06-08 17:41:10)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

That is if one believes that is an abuse of vacation... I do not. Both players started with the same amount of vacation time and employed it for uses and different times. I think that is the whole idea behind vacation. For some people, vacation is finding a beach to lay on. For others, vacation would be freeing their normal hectic 16 hour that involves 1 hour of corr analysis and turning that day into a 17 hour corr analysis pound house.


Robert Knighton    (2013-06-08 22:37:01)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

@Daniel: The problem with your way of thinking is that it encourages me to play as few games on this site as possible so I can always be able to use my vacation time in that way.

Also if I have real vacation coming up in a few months I wont start new games because I dont have vacation time now to cover it.

end result being less games played on the site because vacation time is easy to abuse?

Even without hard rules being put in place, my opinion would be that using vacation time to get an edge in your games is poor conduct but I don't see how there is any way to completely stop the behavior. Limiting the convenience of it is about the best that could be done.


Daniel Parmet    (2013-06-08 23:26:11)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Unfortunately there isn't a problem with my way of thinking. It is simply whether or not you consider your point of view to be an abuse of vacation and the simple fact is I do not agree with you in the slightest. So what we have here is a difference of opinion. I believe you are creating a problem where there is none.


Robert Knighton    (2013-06-08 23:57:02)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

I'm not creating a problem. I'm agreeing with a point of view already expressed by others on this forum and trying to clarify that point of view as I understand it.

Also, unless we are discussing the rules of mathematics for example, then pretty much all rules that exist are someone's opinion of how things should be right?

So what I understand you to be saying is that you want to be able to use vacation time to buy more time for your games and you believe this is acceptable behavior even if it gives you an advantage over other players who use their vacation time to go on vacation. It isn't called "performance boost time" or "buy a way out of a difficult position time"; it's called vacation time.

I think the topic here was started because there are a lot of people who disagree with you and believe vacation time is not intended to be used to buy an advantage against your more challenging opponents.


Daniel Parmet    (2013-06-09 00:31:35)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Ah, I understand now. Because someone doesn't agree with you - you must put obscene words in their mouth to describe their untenable position. Everything you just said is COMPLETE horseshit. The fact that someone has a different point of view from you is what reality is.

I have yet to hear of a single example of vacation abuse and I am now coming to the understanding that there isn't a way to abuse vacation. Thank you for the enlightenment.


Thibault de Vassal    (2013-06-09 01:40:04)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

Well, I don't see the point anymore here... please let's talk about this (minor) point of the rules only, I wouldn't like to have to close this discussion.

As Daniel says, there is a question of definition of what vacation is or should be. And both opinions are ok for me, so there is no point to discuss it between the two sides, we can only wait for more opinions at the moment IMHO.


Michael Aigner    (2013-06-11 13:25:26)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

In my opinion there is no need to change the rules. As far as I understood some people see the normal use of vacation which is defined by the rules as abuse which in itself is a contradiction. Anybody (could) know the rules before starting a game.

I understand that it is kind of a little disadvantage when some people have to use their vacation for vacation or for emergencies while others use it for analyzing their games but that’s life.´
There are many other factors one could consider as unfair e.g. faster hardware, no family to care of, retiree, students versus people who have to work the whole day which have much more influence then this "abuse" of vacation time.

By the way, I think it is very hard to play “good” correspondence chess (in a complex position) by using just one day per move, so I am not unhappy if my opponent have to take one day of vacation to have the time to decide for a move to make.


Philip Roe    (2013-06-11 14:08:13)
Vacation: change for 3 days minimum?

There are players, who I could name, who always run their clocks very low and use vacation a day or two at a time to avoid loss. I have absolutely no idea why they do that. They gain no advantage, and in fact frequently lose on time. In consequence they are greatly underrated. Paired against one of them, you may in fact lose (against a low-rated player) or gain an unsatisfying forfeit. This behavior is legitimate under the current rules but extremely irritating.

It is true that all rules can be abused, but it is not unreasonable to set up rules so that abuse is less likely.


Peter W. Anderson    (2013-06-22 18:45:26)
Playing activity top 20 players

At the risk of intertwining two separate threads....

10+1 would be very different from 30+1 if your 10+1 clocks kept running whislt you were on vacation (i.e. effectively no vacation in 10+1). This might appeal to people who like a fairly quick rate of play.

If it were done like that I would most likely play in a few 10+1 tournaments.


Robert Knighton    (2013-06-24 14:59:21)
Playing activity top 20 players

20 days removed is a lot of time.

A tournament class which disallows vacation time would in itself be interesting.

combining the two would make for a very different tournament class.


Thibault de Vassal    (2013-09-04 00:43:00)
New my games feature requested

Kind of vacation, sorry :)

Just read the whole discussion (at last)... Currently, the name of the tournament appears by leaving the mouse on a game in the list. I'm not sure which choice is best, as for me I prefer to have more games available on my screen but an option may be ok I guess.

Please be patient, I should be back to code in a few weeks.


Thibault de Vassal    (2013-12-23 20:59:07)
Withdrawal from all standard time events

Well, as for me I still like very much this time control... It enables me not to accumulate too much stress (mainly because of periods -added to vacation- when I cannot play chess enough) while accumulating a few tournaments.

But I understand for sure your feeling! People do not play at the same rhythm, that's all and that's why we have rapid tournaments (that seem to be about as popular as standard tourneys).


Garvin Gray    (2013-12-31 15:46:09)
Withdrawal from all standard time events

Coasantino: As I commented earlier, the rapids are not too bad. At least a player will eventually end up with 1 day per move only and so may time out. But then we get into the situation of them 'gaming' their vacation and the discussions once again around that.

It is solely to do with the standard time control.

I think the standard time control should be:

20 moves in 40 days, followed by 10 moves in 40 days, followed by 10 moves in 40 days and then 15 days plus 1 day per move from move 41.


Garvin Gray    (2014-02-08 11:05:53)
Standard time control abusers

Thib, I have not replied to this because this item has been discussed before and I feel that you are not serious in stopping this issue.

There have been discussions in changing the time control, or changing the vacation rules, and other such discussions, and on each and every occasion you have said that there will be no change.

I have been left with the conclusion that you are on the side of the time control abusers and endorse their behaviour and that it is acceptable to have other players lives wasted for 30 days each 40 day period.

I have presented proposal after proposal to stamp out this scourge and you will not do anything about it.

You have the ability to do so and can act immediately.


Thibault de Vassal    (2014-02-08 16:11:32)
Standard time control abusers

Changing the time control will not avoid the ways to abuse it... And we can always complexify rules (e.g. vacation) but it will always be possible to use it to gain time on difficult moves. All this reminds me the way we are governed in France, with the well known no-results...

Finally, I must say that you often had very good ideas for this site (even if many cannot be used yet because we have no players enough) but I think that your view on time controls is really subjective, probably most of us are really ok with the current rules and we can observe alternatives (iccf, wbccc, other sites).


Heinz-Georg Lehnhoff    (2014-03-03 18:14:56)
Standard time control abusers

Why do you think that a serious player would join FICGS if he cannot play serious correspondence games here? He hasn't done it during the last two years, so he will not do it after this restriction of tournament structure.

IMO time control 30/+1 is only suitable for correspondence cafe chess games. It's enough time for poker games, maybe even go games, but chess? That's enough in no case, if you have to work or want to play on others sides too.

I don't play normal chess on this side because the class tournaments are not attractive enough. At least I should climb the next class level if I win a tournament. With this ELO-driven classification that is not the case. And in the WCH there is not enough time to play a serious game. Furthermore, I don't like the preferential treatment (own groups) for the "better" players. I think that many players feel the same way.

By the way I think it's terrible that chess players are condemned here because they spent their time (or vacation) as they need it. According to the rules that is their right.


Don Groves    (2014-03-09 22:31:46)
Standard time control abusers

Perhaps the best solution is to require every player to make at least one move in every game during a 10 day period. Unless on vacation, I cannot imagine a serious player could not do this. When I play, I never wait longer than about 3 days in any game.


Timofey Denisov    (2014-03-15 18:15:43)
Standard time control abusers

If player not make move after 20 days (vacation days not counting in these 20), then his clock will run 2x times faster until he will make move. After he make move, clock will work as usual.


Garvin Gray    (2014-03-16 08:39:10)
Standard time control abusers

So what prevents a player doing these two measures to get around the rule:

1) Putting themselves on one day vacation as allowed on here.
2) Making one move after 19 days, and then sitting on the position again till day 35.

Game would just advance one move.


Timofey Denisov    (2014-03-16 11:41:12)
Standard time control abusers

1) not working. Because vacation days just skipping in count, so clock will gain double speed in 21th day (if player took 1-day vacation).

2) Yes... maybe do more? Maybe decline 50-move rule on 6- or even 7- pieces in "normal chess"? (because exist tablebases for these endgames, and players just do moves from database), and next is do adjudgement in 6- pieces positions? Result can be gained from chessok.com, for sample. Or if 7-pieces position you can gain result from latest version Aquarium (licensed, pirated copy can't access to tablebases).


Tano-Urayoan Russi Roman    (2014-04-22 18:44:31)
Reduction in max days available? (move)

Garvin, what happens if I want to take a 30 day vacation period? Do I lose the game?


David Fierry Fraillon    (2014-04-23 09:09:36)
Standard time control abusers

Hi all,
I am suffering a player abusing of time control ... he has waiting for 29 days for playing one move and then alternating one move / one day of vacation.
I read all comments on this post and i do agree with both of you (Garvin and Thibault) on main points.
Basically thibault you're wright but maybe you will reconsider your position by looking at it with new eyes :
- In the current WCH at least 6 players are using this ''technic'' : the Pech family (Stepan, Matej, Jaroslav and Jarsolav senior), Pechova and Mach
- They all coming from Czech Republic

So what i think : it is only one player (and i am sure you can check that with IP connection). That player is not interrested in winning elo and is stupid by using the same country.
It is not a person interested by chess it is only someone who want bad on FICGS : and that the point you can use for banning him.

Obviously, I am not sure of what i wrote and in theory i do not agree with writing names of the guilty ... but in that case i think you should consider that guy like a hacker and not like a chess player using a stupid technic for winning elo.


David Fierry Fraillon    (2014-04-23 09:34:42)
Standard time control abusers

Just to precise my point :

- Evoluting rules is a good thing and the fact in implies evoluting cheats is also a good thing ( :-) )
- Allowing one day vacation should be authorized vhen too many moves to play

--> If there is a proof (IP connection or date when vacation are taken in my ''6 players case'') we must consider that we are not in a possible case of correspondance chess.
I am sure it does not happen that often.


Thibault de Vassal    (2014-05-13 22:43:02)
Reduction in max days available? (move)

In my opinion this time limit by move does not really impact the duration of the game, I really don't see any objective (while I understand subjective ones, of course) reason why it should be reduced. Anyway, as I said before, the whole balance of the rules here -particularly vacation- depend on this one so the whole thing should be rethinked.


Thibault de Vassal    (2014-07-11 01:06:42)
Call referee button, response time

30 days was chosen because it was the initial number of vacation days (as far as I remember). What if a player takes successive days of vacation? What if a player cannot play during this short period? We had many discussions that concluded into the idea that the human (referee) factor should be reduced at minimum. This clearly goes the other way.


Sergey Zemlyanov    (2015-11-16 22:09:27)
FICGS chess cup : proposal

Hi all. I try to express my opinion.
The main idea of mass round-robin tournament is good but
I think that the strong players might reject it.
As it seems, I see 2 different ways here:
1st. To have a strong tournament with top players.
2nd. To have a mass tournament just for fun.

In order to organize the 1st tournament you should do the next things:
1. To set up money prizes for winners (more prizes -> more top players might be interested in).
2. To send out invitations for players by email and etc.
3. The time control should not be too fast here if you want a qualitative games
and good tournament.
4. About splitting into the groups.
4.1 Semifinal stage.
I offer to play several qualifying semifinal rounds with 2-3 chessplayers coming into the Final stage.
For example, we have 50 players. So we can create 5 Semifinal groups with 10 players in each with 3 coming out places for the Final.
The time control here I offer 10+2/21 with vacation.
4.2 The Final stage.
I offer 15 players for the Final stage and 14 games for everyone,
or, another variant is 7-8 finalists and 14-16 games with color change for everyone.

About the 2nd tournament my opinion is:
1. To set up money prizes depending on entry fees, for each player.
2. To play mass round robin tournament with 1 game against each player
with faster time control, 10+1/21 for example.

In 1st variant you need to find a contributor to organize the tournament.
But it should be interesting. The 2nd variant with entry fees is interesting too, I think.

AMICI SUMUS,
Sergey Zemlyanov.


Thibault de Vassal    (2016-05-11 19:53:28)
Server crash (april 2016)

Hi all, welcome back :)

First of all, my apologies for this new server crash, about 4 years after the previous one...

The Raid 1 technology has its advantages, the 2 hard drives are almost-exact copies from each other, but it also has its difficulties [e.g. the "almost" part] and I just had to learn much about it to try to restore the server as I encountered not 1, not 2 but 3 hardware failures at the same time, added to a 4th hardware failure at home on the FICGS development PC, and of course added my "famous" incredibly bad internet connection. Murphy's law ^^ ... So, both hard drives and a SATA cable have been replaced on the server. Finally, the system had to be reinstalled and I had to upgrade it, which caused many difficulties these last few days. At the end, it was not possible to restore the very last FICGS database, so we lost a few minutes or hours of moves (fortunately it happened early in the morning). But nothing essential was lost at the end.

I'm still not 100% sure (if it's ever possible) that everything will work fine with this upgraded version of PHP & MySQL, obviously there are some problems with accents for players names (will be fixed soon) but let's go for a try. I probably made mistakes during the whole process that finally took 20 days but the good thing is that I should be able to better prevent such failures in the future. Thanks again for your patience!

As I said in the login/messages page, an email has been sent to warn everyone. If you tried to register or to change your password during the last two weeks, it was not taken in account so you'll have to do it again. 20 days (it was not possible to move during this time) have been added to all players expected to move, and 7 more days have been added to all clocks (including players not expected to move, to avoid any surprise in case of real vacation or something).

One more thing: It may be not possible to connect through SSL with https:// anymore in the future, I still don't know how to configure it on this system.


Let's play! :)


Best wishes,
Thibault


David Fierry Fraillon    (2016-05-11 21:35:58)
Bugs after the server crash

New games times look strange to me :
I guess Thib has put a time increment to avoid the time lost during the server crash.
What i find strange (on my games only of course) :
- a player who it was not the turn to play also get the time increment
- on the tournament FICGS_CLASSE_A_000166 :
the increment seems to be 6-7 days more than it should be
A player who was on vacation get a 7+19 days increment. I think the solution in that case is to increase the number of vacation days instead.

I will check my other tournament and i'll be back


George Jempty    (2016-09-09 17:56:01)
Player of the Year

The game I am the most proud of the past 12 months is http://www.ficgs.com/user_page.php?page=viewer&game=89124 a draw against Ortiz in the first tournament mentioned above. I got a poor position with a poor opening and around move 30 was down around 0.6 to 0.7.

I took all 45 days of my vacation before December 31st and devoted almost all my analysis to this one game, with a new 8-core, 32 GB RAM machine, as well as buying Komodo 9.3 (I'm now up to 10.1). Ortiz did not play so accurately and by move 45 the engine evaluated me as completely even in a few lines but they were complicated and I was much lower on time than my opponent.

However I found a forcing line of about a dozen moves that the engine thought was inferior, but I knew was a dead drawn ending: R+2P vs. R+3P all on the same side of the board, with me also having a sufficiently active rook. So I went for this simpler solution which also let me gain time on the clock as I'd analyzed everything out beforehand. Finally after about a dozen moves in the ending Ortiz offered the draw.


Clodomiro Ortiz    (2018-01-18 10:55:56)
FICGS chess cup : proposal

Dear chessfriends,as someone nicely said,I am now at the clubhouse.i like that..On that account,i think legitimate to extend my congratulations,in advance,to the winner or winners of this first CHESS CUP,no matter who might be,because they are not responsible that anything can happen..what a lesson..Thanks for letting me be part of this event..Yesterday i was only ringing the bells before DEATH KNOCKS AT THE DOOR..WAKE UP my family,WAKEUP LEGITIMACY,that is my wife name,GET VACATION if necessary those who may feel tired at the final stage,,,SPECIAL THANKS FROM MY HEART TO THIBAULT,for keeping on,although not everyone is always satisfied,chess is beautiful but men not so much..What a wonderful world anyway..finally,i want to point out that nobody gave me one single point.What is not too bad...GOOD LUCK..Now i go silent until the end...


Thibault de Vassal    (2019-01-24 18:58:12)
James Romig

Hi all,

Well, it seems to me that a website administrator shouldn't intervene in players private life / ask for or discuss players private life if it does not come from players or players families (as it happens regularly, most often for bad news).

Of course general forfeits happen quite/too often, sometimes there are expressed concerns from other players, sometimes unexpressed concerns or nothing at all, whatever... so IMO the website administrator/referee shouldn't have to act according to such criteria.

Finally, it seems to me that we have to wait for news (but of course friends can contact each other).

As Garvin said, sometimes players make some choices (e.g. if not taking vacation days for any reason is considered as a choice) and there may be unfortunate consequences for themselves & for their opponents. That's what can happen on chess websites... more than in real tournaments, of course.


Garvin Gray    (2020-01-23 08:16:30)
Vacation suggestion

I would like to propose a change to the settings for vacation.

Currently, when you set your vacation time, it will start from the exact moment you set the vacation.

I think a better way would be to allow players to set vacation, with the starting date in the future.

For instance. A player knows they are going on a two week vacation in two days.

Under the current settings, they either have to 'eat' the two extra days, or wait until the very last moment to set their vacation.

It is a bit of a mystery to me why players can not set their vacation to start in the future?


Thibault de Vassal    (2020-01-30 21:10:34)
Vacation suggestion

Ah, I remember that was the first version of the vacation system I tried to make... but there were massive difficulties for different reasons. I must say that building FICGS piece after piece brought problems unlike if it was globally thought for all those options from the start :/ The mystery was in my head 14 years ago ^^


Garvin Gray    (2020-02-15 13:57:31)
Game decided by tablebase

This topic is referring to game 119111. Over 24 hours ago, I pressed the call referee button and claimed a draw for a six man tablebase position.

I have also referred to this game in the chat section.

Whilst I have plenty of time on my clock, this whole process and lack of action, which in my opinion should not take much effort, is really making me nervous that nothing is going to be done and I should waste my time playing out the position.

All I want is the position declared drawn as per the rules.

It should not be this difficult.

What would occur if I only had two days or so on my clock? Would I have to use vacation time to prevent my clock reaching zero.


Thibault de Vassal    (2020-07-29 11:48:26)
What is the longest game of Big Chess?

Hah, good idea... I should find the longest by time as well (at least 3 years I think), but there are vacations.


Thibault de Vassal    (2022-02-27 13:47:40)
Ukrainian players clocks during war

This topic to discuss what should be done about ukrainian players clocks... Probably they do have other matter to think than to take vacation on FICGS while their country is under attack.

Garvin told me that ICCF decided to stop their clocks. What do you think?


Thibault de Vassal    (2022-02-28 21:22:28)
Ukrainian players clocks during war

Let's do this.

Ukrainian players in activity are now in vacation for 45 days. Of course they still have 45 days of vacation remaining. Even if the war ends shortly, I think this is the least time to recover from such dramatic events. If war should last, then this special vacation could be renewed.

Consequently this topic is closed.


Thibault de Vassal    (2022-03-02 19:54:37)
FICGS support to Ukraine

Clocks for ukrainian players in activity have been stopped yesterday (45 days of special "vacation", can be renewed if necessary).

I don't hold any of this against russian players as well. As I said in the other post:

"(...) At tennis, in example, Elina Svitolina (UKR) didn't want to play Anastasia Potapova (RUS) yesterday, but federation of tennis "removed" russian flag for individual players... the match finally happened (Svitolina won 6-2 6-1 by the way). All russians I know do not support this war, so I think it is a good sign of support from them to join this idea, kind of support for peace.

If any russian player is pro-Poutine or supports this war, of course he can talk to me and ask for his flag (not meaning he'll get it)."


Thibault de Vassal    (2022-04-26 22:50:40)
Ukrainian players clocks during war

Yes, I made that stupid mistake to mix the 60 days / move & the 100 days max accumulated time in my mind... as a consequence, even that 2nd period of 45 days vacation more for Alexey did not help. As soon as I saw that result, I added some time to his other games. I'm now working on a script that will solve this very special case for our ukrainian friends (because these dramatic circumstances may last), in other words, I'll have to shift the last move time, possibly again & again.

Of course this result will be canceled within hours, by the way I specified in terms & conditions (soon uploaded) that such human intervention like this may only happen in case of war.


German Denegri    (2022-07-09 21:27:21)
Cancel vacations

hello

how can cancel my vacations, i see i dont can move, i did it becouse i had little time in one game....


Thibault de Vassal    (2022-07-10 02:26:11)
Cancel vacations

Sorry, it is specified in the vacation page: "It is not possible to cancel vacation or to play during your vacation."

There is no way to cancel it...


German Denegri    (2022-07-10 21:37:29)
Cancel vacations

yeah, but im little english and didnt check, it and now i have wait 30 days, maybe in future change rules option cancel vacation be nice for all members
Regards.


Thibault de Vassal    (2022-07-17 02:24:11)
Cancel vacations

This is not a simple matter at all actually... cause any player making any move then would provoke changes that are matter to discuss.


Thibault de Vassal    (2022-08-20 18:35:27)
poker reflection time

Well, after some thinking and the help of another player who told me about that discussion, I have to add or specify several points:

- There is a "max time per move" rule (60 days)
- There is a "max accumulated time" rule (100 days: chess, 60 days: poker)

- The "max time per move" shouldn't be less than 45 days, because of the 45 days of vacation (or we should lower this number of days too).

- The "max accumulated time" can be 30 days while we have 45 days of vacation, there is no problem with that.

Nevertheless, it can be observed that players like me, who play about 1 move per day in each game, never reach the max accumulated time and keep the same rhythm all time long, so I'm afraid it will not change the game duration (sometimes about 1000 days) for us at least. And unfortunately, tournaments follow the rhythm of the slowest players.

Anyway, I'm ok to test that change and we'll look at the result after 1 year or so...


Paul Guralivu    (2026-04-16 10:15:06)
Cheating / Forfeiting

"Pech/Pechova, I'm looking at you"

this might actually be true:
Stepan Pech ... is in vacation until 2026 April 17 4:20:21

Hana Pechova ... is in vacation until 2026 April 17 4:21:1

Taking vacation in the morning, 40 sec difference.

Trully, someone needs to look close at it!


Paul Guralivu    (2026-04-16 10:26:37)
Cheating / Forfeiting

you should add to analysis:

Jiri Mach ... is in vacation until 2026 April 17 4:18:57


Paul Guralivu    (2026-04-16 10:46:43)
Cheating / Forfeiting

Matej Pech ... is in vacation until 2026 April 17 4:19:39


Paul Guralivu    (2026-04-16 10:51:02)
Cheating / Forfeiting

Pretty SUSPECT that 4 players, atleast 1 not part of the family,

take vacation AT 4 AM (in the MORNING!)... minutes or seconds from one-an-other!


Ulises Pineda    (2026-06-01 03:15:35)
Cheating / Forfeiting

Let me play devil's advocate here: It makes sense that all these players take a vacation at the same time if they're from the same family, presumably the family goes together on vacation and are expected to come back together as well.

What shouldn't be allowed is if they play each other and let the game run out of time to give the win to one of them, that's not random, but I haven't seen that happening, anyway.


Paul Guralivu    (2026-06-06 18:16:18)
Cheating / Forfeiting

@Ulises Pineda: there is not vacation...

"they" take those vacations often, just for 24-48 h...

when they don't take those vacations, they just let the clock go close to ZERO and then take vacations for 24-48 h AND then make the move!

Plus: Mach Jiri is part of the "situation".

and I believe Koudela Arthur is part of the situation also.

guess what: in the WCH... Mach Jiri, Pechova Hana and Koudela Arthur are in the SAME group -- playing each other!




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The older I grow, the more I value Pawns. (Keres)

Human affairs are like a Chess game: only those who do not take it seriously can be called good players. (Hung Tzu Ch'eng)

Don't even mention losing to me. I can't stand to think of it. (Bobby Fischer)




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