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I started another thread on a question about the "clock." Many RHP users state on their profile that the clock is part of the game (usually as a precursor to saying they claim skulls). But isn't that misleading?

Correspondence chess, by definition, is without any signficant time controls. Thus, the clock is not really part of the game. After all, each player generally has days to make each move. There is no time pressure.

In contrast, in OTB or blitz, the clock is definitely part of the game.

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Originally posted by moon1969
I started another thread on a question about the "clock." Many RHP users state on their profile that the clock is part of the game (usually as a precursor to saying they claim skulls). But isn't that misleading?

Correspondence chess, by definition, is without any signficant time controls. Thus, the clock is not really part of the game. After all, each ...[text shortened]... no time pressure.

In contrast, in OTB or blitz, the clock is definitely part of the game.
I think clocks are very important. Throughout history there have been many uses for clocks. My favourite clock is the clock on the Houses of Parliament in London, it has signalled the start of drunken revelry and wanton kissing for me on many occasions. Sometimes clocks are bad, like when they enable armies to co-ordinate attack times to wipe out small villages however I am willing to overlook this otherwise most caper movies wouldn't work too well.

On the whole I think clocks are a good thing, how about you?

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Originally posted by cadwah
On the whole I think clocks are a good thing, how about you?
Yes, clock good. But is the clock part of the game of chess in correspondence chess.

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Originally posted by moon1969
Yes, clock good. But is the clock part of the game of chess in correspondence chess.
That's a bit like asking if Checkmate is part of the game. It's a function on this and many other correspondence chess sites by which you can win the game. I also like 1980's Casio digital watches. What is your favourite type of clock?

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Originally posted by moon1969
Yes, clock good.
Ah, but is fire good too?

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Originally posted by ChessPraxis
Ah, but is fire good too?
Fire good. Sex better.

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Originally posted by cadwah
I also like 1980's Casio digital watches. What is your favourite type of clock?
I haven't worn a watch in over 20 years. And I just realized I don't even own a clock. I use my cell phone for time and alarm.

If I did own a clock, it would be a cheap LED clock for the bedroon night stand, and/or a plain big round cheap traditional clock hanging on the wall.

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Originally posted by ChessPraxis
Ah, but is fire good too?
I see you got my intonation. I am glad somebody noticed.


Originally posted by moon1969
I started another thread on a question about the "clock." Many RHP users state on their profile that the clock is part of the game (usually as a precursor to saying they claim skulls). But isn't that misleading?

Correspondence chess, by definition, is without any signficant time controls. Thus, the clock is not really part of the game. After all, each ...[text shortened]... no time pressure.

In contrast, in OTB or blitz, the clock is definitely part of the game.
Depends on the rules you agree to play by. When you accept a time-limited game, the clock is a part of it.

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Originally posted by cadwah
That's a bit like asking if Checkmate is part of the game. It's a function on this and many other correspondence chess sites by which you can win the game.
I see your point. Clear way of expressing it.

If I checkmate you in a RHP contest, then I win and to me that feels part of the game and reflects on our chess-playing ability.

If you timeout in our RHP contest because you got busy at work, then I claim the skull and win. Indeed, the clock is part of the game in that sense, though it has nothing to do with chess playing ability, and not really part of the game of chess. In other words, it is part of the "game" but not part of the "game of chess."

Moreover, it seems kind of circular argument to say as user profiles say that "the clock is part of the game so I claim skulls." It seems more clear that unlike in OTB and blitz chess, the clock in RHP correspondence chess is really more part of the site rules and defined non-chess interaction between players, and not a chess rule or part of chess strategy.

It may make more sense to say on the user profile to just simply say "I claim skulls" and leave it at that. Or "I claim skulls because I want to claim skulls" or "I claims skulls because I want the win" or "I claim skulls because the site provides for it and you are taking too long to move" or "I claim skulls even though the clock has nothing to do with the game of chess in correspondence chess, but I want to keep my game load moving along," for example. Etc.

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Originally posted by moon1969
It may make more sense to say on the user profile to just simply say "I claim skulls" and leave it at that. Or "I claim skulls because I want to claim skulls" or "I claims skulls because I want the win" or "I claim skulls because the site provides for it and you are taking too long to move" or "I claim skulls even though the clock has nothing to do with th ...[text shortened]... orrespondence chess, but I want to keep my game load moving along," for example. Etc.
Or... I will take timeouts unless it's a full moon.

That's right, I use our solar system as my chess clock. 😛

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Originally posted by avalanchethecat
Depends on the rules you agree to play by. When you accept a time-limited game, the clock is a part of it.
True. It is a non-chess rule that can result in a loss. Indeed, you lose the game if you timeout and your opponent claims the skull. Clearly, it is thus part of the contest. But it does not strikingly reflect on one's chess playing ability, as the clock does in OTB or blitz does it?

I would say the clock in OTB or blitz is more of a chess rule, and does reflect on chess playing ability. The clock is definitely is part of the game in OTB chess and quite often a factor among OTB club players and masters, as it is a measure of one's ability to to be mentally nimble and agile in chess strategy. In contrast, the clock has little or no such meaning in correspondence chess.

In RHP correspondence, RHP game load and personal commitments outside of RHP dwarf chess playing ability as factors with the meaning of the clock.

In other words, the appearance of a skull is generally more indicative of a player's game load and/or personal demands outside of RHP, and not really indicative of the player's chess or mental ability, such as it is in OTB chess. In correspondence type chess such as RHP, the clock is not really part of the game of chess but more about issues unrelated to the game of chess?

When I sit down and play an OTB game with a clock or an online game with clock set at 1 hour or 30 minutes, for example, the clock is part of the game of chess. For example, I may rush a risky move or take a less-complicated tactical or positional route to conserve time. In contrast, such is not really an issue in correspondence chess when you have days or a week to move. After all, you can spend hours on each move.

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Originally posted by moon1969
True. It is a non-chess rule that can result in a loss. Indeed, you lose the game if you timeout and your opponent claims the skull. Clearly, it is thus part of the contest. But it does not strikingly reflect on one's chess playing ability, as the clock does in OTB or blitz does it?

I would say the clock in OTB or blitz is more of a chess rule, and ...[text shortened]... nce chess when you have days or a week to move. After all, you can spend hours on each move.
I'm sure there are others who feel the same as you. Perhaps you could create new and only accept invites on games with maximum time allowance, which I think is 21 days per move with a 28 day time-bank. That should leave you plenty of time to deal with vicissitudes, shouldn't it? You could also bring the issue up in the 'site ideas' forum and see whether time unlimited games might have any currency here. I think there are a number of potential problems with the idea myself, but what do I know, I can barely play the game.

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Originally posted by moon1969

Correspondence chess, by definition, is without any signficant time controls. Thus, the clock is not really part of the game.
Stats for my fellow Texan, moon1969:

Wins by timeout 28 (17.28% )
Losses by timeout 0 (0.00% )

So in at least 17% of your games, the clock was important. 🙂

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Originally posted by MontyMoose
Stats for my fellow Texan, moon1969:

Wins by timeout 28 (17.28% )
Losses by timeout 0 (0.00% )

So in at least 17% of your games, the clock was important. 🙂
Thread 140613

Originally posted by ChessPraxis
Wins by timeout 28 (17.28% )
Losses by timeout 0 (0.00% )
You just need to get burned a few times yourself to change your mind.😛

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