NO complaint here but I recently asked an opponent if we were playing a "live game"  for 30 minutes.

He said we were so I then asked him how he had  a  little more than 31 minutes left on his time while I had  around 22. I think we both moved reasonably for our skill level.

I only onder how he had more than 30 minutes when the game was  limited to 30.

No doubt there is a simple explanation.

Any  Ideas?

I should add he was a nice fellow from a Middle EAstern country.    BAsed on his coutry flag

NO issues with him at all..   He just about didn't answer my  simple question  about  his time  situation.    He voided that matter althought he was friendly in chat.

Any ideas?

TIA

Many thanks for your reply but that does not explain how a person has at any stage more time than that from the beginning of the game.

Start with 30 minutes and then in a while have over 31 minutes?    I am curious.

I'm sorry I have to ask this, but sometimes the simplest explanations have to be eliminated first.  Was there an increment?

If no, then you must have had a temporary disconnect.  Ordinary lag wouldn't cause that much of a difference.  Here's a couple of articles that might help:

https://support.chess.com/customer/en/portal/articles/1444849-why-did-the-clock-times-suddenly-change-the-clocks-seem-broken-

and

https://support.chess.com/customer/en/portal/articles/1444918-my-internet-connection-is-fine---why-am-i-getting-disconnects-

I should add he was a nice fellow from a Middle EAstern country.   

NO issues with him at all..   He just about didn't answer my  simple question  about  his time  situation.    He voided that matter althought he was friendly in chat.

Any ideas?

TIA

From past games and advice I've received on this forum, I constantly refresh the   game.    I doubt that could  be the root cause of the issue.

But you're right,   who knows?

This will probably get your thread locked, but I suppose he could have been using a lag switch.  They aren't just urban legend unfortunately.

Thanks for that.    I've no idea what a lag switch is but I can guess.   No matter what I wonder how we  both started with a 30 minute game and this friendly fellow at one point had over 31 minutes time left.    I just don't get it.  Something is goig on I think.    Not saying he did wrong but I wonder how that happens.

What a shame..      I was not aware of this and it should not be a secret.    Moderators should be on the look out for this.

 Live internet chess sites are being plagued by cheaters who are using techniques learned from multiplayer online gaming sites.

Do you recognise one or more of these scenarios? 

 You are playing a blitz game. The game proceeds 'normally' till you get; A decisive advantage,  you are just about to deliver mate or win on time,  when the game seems to freeze with your opponents clock still counting down or the clocks stop and become erratic. Quite often your opponents clock will show negative time. After waiting for a long time, wondering what's happening you are now stuck because closing the game window means 'resign'. Using the 'finger' command confirms you opponent is still connected. The only option is to adjourn the game and make an adjudication request later.

 Or, after you achieve a won position and are just about the land the knockout blow, the time lag between the moves suddenly becomes excessive, your instant moves ( ICC pre-move) now take 5 seconds or more off your clock causing you to lose time, or you lose the game with time still on your clock. 
Any of this sound familiar?  It only seems to happen when I have just won a piece or I have a decisive advantage and am just about to win the game. It happens to me on a regular basis, to often for it to be a coincidence.

The simplest explanation is usually the best one. You were playing with an increment added whether you knew it or not.

            Where can I learn about the intricacies of the time function?                                                                  From a drummer of course                                                                                 

dx/dt

∫ x dt