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tapanis
01-Mar-19, 13:16

Timeout guard
How do you monitor possible timeouts? It would be nice to get a note from every team game ending with timeout!

If a player timeout, he/she will be paired only 5 day games for a while so I should keep aware about timeouts.
shirlmygirl
01-Mar-19, 15:03

As the game result comes in on the messages file, if it is a timeout it always says "timeout". If it is my player who times out, I always make a note on the note section of the player's profile page the rating he was when he timed out. I disregard one timeout only, as my players who have timed out well know.
goldentweety
01-Mar-19, 18:51

Removal from team for timeouts
I have a relatively larger team to manage so we're a little stricter on time outs. We are lenient because we allow up to 3 at any given time and if a person contacts me with a reasonable explanation then I disregard as many as necessary.

But if a team member is timing out I always check his past game history his team game history. A long string of timeouts on his past game history may indicate a problem such as an illness or death in the family etc


But when I look at the team games sometimes I find players that have timed out their last six seven eight games over a period Of six months. Those players are removed from the team regardless of their games in progress because they're probably lost anyway.

I keep an updated copy of the time out policy on our forum for any new players who join so they can see and read it for themselves so that they know what to do if they time out.

It is possible to be strict yet lenient at the same time
shirlmygirl
02-Mar-19, 19:36

What I really don't like with regard to timeouts is when they push a player up in rating when he wins by timeout. That is a real disadvantage because it is not his true rating. I am reasonably sure I suggested to GameKnot that they don't raise the rating when a player wins by timeout, but nothing happened. I also suggested to GameKnot that they remove all timeouts that are three years old and earlier. That received no response either (unless it was referred to the Development Team). It seems I don't make much of an impression on GameKnot personnel.
baddeeds
06-Mar-19, 16:54

My Policy
I'm much more stringent about this. When you apply on to join my team, I look at your timeout history. As noted in another thread, I don't, necessarily go by percents when it comes to timeouts, since it can add up to a big another. Instead, I go by, overall, timeouts. For the most part, I'm linent, if it's, at most, 20, and I prefer lower. But, once you get at 25 or more, then I, generally decline, unless the last one was years ago, and I have reason to believe that it was their first time in years, which is not often.

The only time I won't show amnesty if it's 20 or lower is if you were on a previous team and timed out in any one of those team games. The reason being is because, most teams are more linent, and have rule of linency. And, they're not removed from the team, if they give a good reason to their captain. So, being removed means that it either wasn't good, or more often, from what I read in team discriptions, they don't give a reason, at all.

Well, I don't admit them under those conditions because they might then lose team games on time, if they're on my team. And, the idea, before I even became a co-captain, let alone, captain is to keep it time out free, free from timeouts. It's still required on my team.

What's more is that, even if, they aren't to lose on time, there's a good chance that the opposing captain would decline the players selection and not match him or her. The reason being is because they're rating doesn't reflect their true ability. As it might be even higher then what it says since the timeouts pull themed down. Dave, davidbus, mentioned it, and when he said, I remember something that Greg emphasized in the team description. That, your rating is supposed to reflect your true ability.

With that being said, once they're on my team I won't remove them for or look at their general timeouts. The reason because of things time management, and I do not want to overstep my authority, especially due to what it was like in the GAC error. So, I'm lenient with that. That is, unless, the timeout happens during a team game. But, if they lose even one team game, on time, I remove them, as that affects our team.

In fact, one reason I became co-captain was due to keeping on eye on people that lost team games on time when Ben promoted me. As when Greg was offline, probably school studies, timeouts were a major problem, so something had to be done about it. However, if I view their reason as valid, which happens about 60% of the time since I'm an understanding person, I'll readmit them. Even if it's something like getting busy, since that can be sudden and without warning, I reinstate.

There are, however, times that could've prevented. Most of the time, I'm not given a reason for the time. So, in that case, I don't readmit them, at all. Mind you that this rule of timeouts was when Greg was still captain. As used to be understanding and slow to remove. But, it the problem became worse and worse, so everyone made a vote. The vote was to be stringent about keeping the team time out free.
baddeeds
07-Mar-19, 16:57

There's more that I forgot to add. As after I became the captain, for a while, I just accepted anyone. Of course, the issue was discussed with davidbus. However, in between that he suggested that I decline someones suggestion because that said person had a long history of losing games on time.

With what I posted, I was super nice and accepted it. But, then takenoprisoner informed that the person, whom I accepted, was removed from Immortal Kings for a number of unexplained timeouts. Upon making this discovery, I spoke to davidibus about this, and Dave questioned why it happened. After not explaining the logic, Dave recommended that I remove him immediately. And, I followed his suggestion

It was from that point forward I looked into when and where the timeouts. And, I decided, from then, that if someone was removed from a previous team for unexplained timeouts, I don't admit them onto my team. I also find out without, and not with fact, but opinions. By that, if I believe that someone was removed from the team and if it was by timing out on team games by looking at the team description of that team.
tapanis
12-Mar-19, 06:53

A tool for captains
Would be nice to have a tool to filter un-suitable players out when selecting players for team games. We have some players that can be seen in list, but they are not available because of time outs, rating floor or personal reasons. Now I just need to remember but if you have more members, it would help also.
king_0_nothing
13-Mar-19, 19:27

tapanis, right now the best thing Gameknot has for that is the player notes section on each player's profile. I agree it would be nice if, as we have discussed before somewhere in here, a captain could "turn off" certain player's green lights. It might be good to compile a list of player notes to disperse to your co-captains daily or weekly, but I'm afraid it would be hard to keep up with.
shirlmygirl
13-Mar-19, 19:37

It would be wonderful for a captain to be able to turn off a player's green signal when we don't want to pair that player. But would that be more complications down the road, if the leader of the team changes? Perhaps a new captain could appeal to GameKnot to turn the signal back on, in such a case.
baddeeds
14-Mar-19, 17:25

I'd like it to. However, as of the moment, there isn't an opposing team who I wouldn't accept matches from, as of now.
baddeeds
15-Mar-19, 06:54

In fact, I believe that they know have it. There's something called, "real time" which you can click on a check mark to have them notify you.
shirlmygirl
15-Mar-19, 10:24

When I say that I would like to be able to turn off the signal for the availability of a player, I mean on my own team. Just want to make that clear.
amacivn
26-Jun-19, 02:13

What is this irrational fear of players who time out by Captains on GK ?

You don't need a tool to monitor timeouts - you can do it yourself - look at the players profile and graph if you see a trend - don't match

Another question ...
Why do certain teams decline a pairing because they ASSUME one opponent will time out ?
Because her Timeouts were high ?
Yet on there own Team they may have players with high timeout frequency that they still match ! What is the difference ?

Think about this ... why would a Captain make a challenge knowing his player was going to timeout ? Why would he purposely lose a Team match ?
Surely a Captain talks to his players and finds out if there is an issue .... I think it's called Team management !

GK has already given us s tool to stop timeouts .... remove the player from the Team explaining he can rejoin when he's ready

But I would like a tool ( probably impractical) to help the players who for reasons of ill health or other lifestyle issues cannot help but timeout... currently they can get punished by GK , I would like them to be reset after 3 years or more so they are removed from the profile page , currently Timouts out from 3+ years show but they may not be active , as I said probably impractical
joveyboy1
26-Jun-19, 02:27

I've been dealing with that lately. I've had multiple players timeout lately, I listed a couple of them for teams to see when they challenge my team. I'm trying to talk to them now, though I wouldn't be surprised if I remove a couple soon. I give a lot of chances, probably too many, but I know life can happen and cause those timeouts. It is hard to manage at times though, especially when teams still ask for those players. It will happen, but I wouldn't mind making them appear unavailable until things get sorted.
amacivn
26-Jun-19, 02:43

Joe we both know you do it the right way

And I like the idea of letting some teams know before they make a challenge , a list can be put on the Team page I suppose , but I don't always check that as I tend to challenge Captains who are on line !
joveyboy1
27-Jun-19, 23:41

Well I wouldn't say I do it the right way, I have no idea on that, but you know I'll try my best at least  

Captains should have a list of who's available for what when you challenge them. The majority of teams I know don't, but some, including myself, do have a list easy to see when a challenge is sent over, although my list is too long, I have so many players with set preferences  
baddeeds
28-Jun-19, 10:53

Before I became a co-captain, let alone captain, my team used to do it a similar way. It was that if you timed out the first time, you'd need a reasonable explanation to avoid removal from team, if you were a premium member. If the reason wasn't good, of course, you were removed, and I believe that it was with no chance of reinstatement. If the reason was, at least, valid, you'd, at the least, be suspended from team games until things were sorted out. But, if a second timeout were to occur, then the player would be removed without reinstatement.

If, however, someone was a free member then it's like the way it is now, where that person would be removed from the team. And, they'd need a valid reason for reinstatement. Things changed to how it remains now. It started with the original captain as it was discussed in a thread, and pretty much, everyone voted for it since more and more premium members were losing team games on time. So, if you lost just from something like careless or rushing or not improving, there's no removal because even if you weren't, let's say improving, you were still playing your best. Plus, there was still fun since it was, at the time, called Balance, before I changed it's name to Teachers and Learners. As it was balance between seriousness, learning, but also having fun.

Losing on time, however, is a little different. As not only aren't you learning, but there's no fun at all. Timing out on a team game, is the way that rianneman describes which is that your letting your partners and the team down and are not playing your best and fighting until the end. Under those grounds, a player is removed, and if they have a valid reason, they get reinstated. Most of the time, a player that's removed has a valid enough of a reason for me to reinstate them. As I put myself in their shoes and see where that would cause a timeout. And, I can relate to it because even though I've only timed out in 2 games, I lost other games from the opposite, rushing, for the same reason that their timeouts occurred.
joveyboy1
21-Dec-19, 01:06

I would like to say, if someone times out on my team, of course I won't be kicking them just like that, things happen, as has been discussed here, and who knows how busy everyone gets during this time of year, but they will get a message from me, one I think should logically get positive replies:

"I hope all is well, I saw you timed out on a few games. I don't want to get you more team matches if it puts too much of a strain on you. Let me know if it is okay to get you more team games, or if something needs to change, like fewer games or a longer time control. Again I hope all is well.

Best regards, Joe
Team Captain of Triton"

I've always wondered what the best initial message to send to those who time out would be. I think I found mine, plus, if I forget, now I can always come back to this forum   Unless it's deleted. Don't delete this thread please! lol
saguaro
21-Dec-19, 15:35

Joveyboy - I really like that message.

- Dave, co-captain, The Brights
riaannieman
06-Mar-20, 07:15

About 5 or 6 years ago I had to leave for business suddenly. It happened so quickly that I couldn't postpone my games, and the emergency time out initiated by GK also ran out. I had a string of 45 time outs. It has never happened before and it has not happened since. So, yes, I agree with the opinions above that timeouts can\should be removed from statistics after a set period.

(Just a little fact: we have a player with more than 7 400 games and not a single time out! Beat that!)

I have a question, though: does anybody have a way to monitor current team games for time outs? I requested my team to keep tabs on each other in team matches, but I was told quickly that they can't see that of each other's games. I want to prevent time outs if possible.

I have collected the telephone numbers of most of the team members of SWAT, and contact them with a friendly text message if I know that a time out is approaching fast, but most often I only realize that after the first three or more time outs and I'm only able to 'save' the last one or two games. It is not effective, and I need advice if anybody has some.
amacivn
06-Mar-20, 08:20

Timeouts hurt our team big style and as players on our team want matches when they go they go big !

I totally understand people have lives outside of GK and I timed out recently in a game , my first for awhile , it would be great if old time outs were removed after a period as some players get penalised by teams not playing against them ,

Currently I'm playing another Captain , 2 moves away from victory - yet he will not move , both our clocks are running down , when it's down to 1 hour he moves , I've known this guy many years and never had a problem, I can only assume he's doing this because although he's " winning" our other match and up 3 pts I haven't resigned , I think we are at 45 moves in that game ( with a full clock ) and 26 in the other - yet with a Queen Rook and Bishop i still have a chance against his Queen and both Rooks , so yeah stalling is another issue of mine

I don't think there is a clear cut way to monitor timeouts during team play , unless a player is doing it on purpose and moving in other games
joveyboy1
06-Mar-20, 17:09

I have my settings set to notify me of every team game completed. I know when someone times out with the help of that, but I don't know of any method to monitor games if they're close to timing out.

Also I see I forgot to say, thank you Dave, I have come back to this forum to remember what I put there lol  
amacivn
07-Mar-20, 01:52

@Riaan taking on your challenge our Team has a Captain who's played 8659 games without a timeout , that's 3272 Team matches .... yikes !

I bet there's a player out there who could best that , we have some well established teams
riaannieman
07-Mar-20, 02:32

Wow! More than 8 000 games without a time out! Wow! Very impressive.

OK Thank you for the feedback on the time outs. I appreciate it. I'll just depend on my team and contact them individually as well.
neurokarma
08-Mar-20, 12:51

Time outs are a pet hate of mine. If a team member times out even once without a credible explanation he/she is out, no ifs or buts.
amacivn
08-Mar-20, 13:07

And Neukarama shoots straight to the top of the table 🏆

9193 games without a timeout !

Pretty fly major Tom

shirlmygirl
08-Mar-20, 13:12

I'm afraid I am much more tolerant, but I do try to pair the player at his timeout rating, forgiving him one timeout game.   I also have never timed out, although I almost did with one game but my emergency postponement kicked in.
neurokarma
08-Mar-20, 13:14

Yeah, confession time. I had the emergency postponement kick in once, but not in a team game
riaannieman
08-Mar-20, 21:29

I have to let my player know about neurokarma. That is a great achievement. Congratulations.
amacivn
13-Mar-20, 03:57

I've started taking notice of this

seoulman Captain of nightmare , over 20900 matches without a timout which is awesome
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