The time control suggestions certainly seem reasonable. I really do feel that some sort of time control for friendly games is needed. I have met players who said they don't want to,commit themselves to sending a move every day because they work or they are very busy with family, etc.I think if a person wants to play chess within a gorganized groupthey should be agreeable to at least one move every 24 hour period. Even that seems to be a snail's pace. Connie ----- Original Message ----- From: R Dinger To: chess Sent: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:54:37 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [blind-chess] More on time control, vacations and illness Hi All, There certainly seems to be some interest in game time controls. Personally, I would like to see individual players agree in advance for friendly games rather than forcing everyone into a single approach. But maybe we can improve the situation with some of the following proposals. All games: * Players should remind their opponents by resending their last move if they do not receive a reply move within a day. Friendly Games: * Either player can withdraw from a friendly game prior to White move six without loss of rating. (The idea here is neither player has much invested through move 5 so walking away is easy) * A friendly game player that does not make a move for more than five consecutive days without prior agreement is considered to have abandoned the game and loses on time. (Note ignorance will be no excuse because of the general reminder rule above.) * Players in friendly games will agree in advance if time controls are to be used. * If time controls are used in friendly games the normal five day reflection time limit is suggested denoted as 0/5 to begin. Vacation or illness absences: * Time will be suspended for any player that is seriously ill or in the hospital until they are ready to play. * If the opponent of a seriously ill player wants to start another interim game, contact the TD for instructions. (Some arrangements may be required if your opponent started another game because of long illnesses, but the game can be restarted in an orderly manner with some discussion) * A player may arrange a vacation from a non ladder tournament by notifying the TD at least one week in advance. * Vacationing ladder players can either leave the ladder and re-enter later or use suspended mode. * In suspended mode a player retains their place on the ladder as though they were defending, but is effectively invisible so players below can jump over. I look forward to any comments or additions. Richard