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Taking timeouts

Taking timeouts

Only Chess

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I took a timeout the other day, I wish I hadn't. I know some say it is part of the game, and the guy I took the game from always takes them, but I didn't feel right about it. Then to my surprise I found I had increased my rating as a result. Stupidly I though that since the gane was not completed that it would not affect my rating.

I can't see the point in this. If I took several more it would make my rating higher than I am capable of, all that will do is make me play people above my standard and I will lose.

Any views on this?

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Originally posted by Goggy
I took a timeout the other day, I wish I hadn't. I know some say it is part of the game, and the guy I took the game from always takes them, but I didn't feel right about it. Then to my surprise I found I had increased my rating as a result. Stupidly I though that since the gane was not completed that it would not affect my rating.

I can't see the point ...[text shortened]... ll that will do is make me play people above my standard and I will lose.

Any views on this?
It's just part of the game. If you were playing over-the-board and your opponent's clock ran out it would be a win for you.

I don't take timeouts with people on vacation either. I did have one extreme situation where my opponent was gone for almost two months, left no vacation message, and I was the only game he had that was in progress. I PM'd him (sent an email) and even tried contacting his clan members. Unfortunately he was the only member in his clan!

Anyway, the big debate on this site isn't whether to take timeouts or not. It's whether to take them with the vacation flag showing. And I'm not getting into that one. :-)

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Part of a player's skill is reflected in how well he uses the time available to him. If he needs more time he should play with longer time controls.

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Ok, thanks for the input. I don't feel so guilty now. 🙂

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Of course there's something to be said for extenuating circumstances...

I am very good with the 1 day timeout rule with no timebank and have kept within those limits...

My computer was shot down by viruses for a bit and it took me awhile to fix it...bringing me right up to the point of 20 or so minutes over the timelimit...

When I logged on to quickly do my move...the person had timed me out...

I'm just saying that a reminder would be more appropriate than just shooting me down for extenuating circumstances...

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The reminder would have been nice, but thems the breaks when you play without a timebank.

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There's no need to feel guilty.

If there was no change to your rating all that would happen is that some dishonest folk might simply stop moving when the game looked bad for themselves thereby retaining their rating.