Game aborted by server (bug?) and some other questions

Well, i've been playing here for only some days now, and this has happened twice: The game starts and at 1st move a "Game aborted by server" message appears. (game ends without change in ratings)

Any idea why this happens?

My connection isn't ideal (varies) but i wasn't disconnected... Also, i'm using Windows XP and Chrome, if that matters.

Btw, what happens if you're disconnected while playing? Can you re-connect and resume as long as the timer hasn't reached 00:00?

Another question i have (sorry if this isn't the right place for all my questions :/ ) is: Can i change the board so that it doesn't show the last move that was played in colour? And if yes, then how? :)

hummm hummm i'm sure i had other questions too...

Anyway, this is a great site! :)

thank you! 

edit @mods: maybe i should have made this post at "Live chess" forum, so move it there if it's better

1st question: The opponent took too long to move so the game was aborted.

2nd question: I think you can.

Hmmm, are you sure? I had Black at the most recent game (which i remember better) - White moved and i didn't play instantly, but i guess i spent 10-15 seconds at most, and just when i played my 1st move the game was aborted... Is 10-15 secs too long?

I think so. Look at the fair play policy or something to find out.

No. I think you have a point. On chrome + windows XP have had repeated server-disconnections for around one-week now.

Well, i guess if you don't play your first move in about 10 secs the game is automatically aborted, which doesn't make much sense to me (although it might be somewhat weird to not play immediatelly, but you're wasting your OWN time, so what gives?). If it was let's say 30 secs, i'd be fine with that.

Also, i found out that if you disconnect, the game ends after about a couple of minutes, no matter how much time you have left on the timer. That is just wrong imo, too, cause the time isn't enough for me to reconnect. Again, if the time was a little more, let's say 4-5 minutes, i'd be ok. My connection (wires?) is not so good and it sometimes disconnects and reconnects without me doing anything, but it doesn't re-connect in time to continue the game. I think it's a shame to lose a 45 min game, with 35 minutes left, just because i disconnected by accident for 2-3 mins. >.<

Any opinions?

I hope the site staff takes what i said into consideration :)

I just found here more details

http://support.chess.com/Knowledgebase/Article/View/171/13/fair-play-policy

it says among other things:

"Do not Abort games if your opponent will not move at the beginning of a game: The server will do it for you!

On his or her turn, each player has 15-20 seconds to make their first move. If this does not happen, the game will be automatically aborted. This has a negative effect on the Fair-Play record of the player failing to move. (But if you hit Abort, it affects your record! It's best to be patient for a few seconds.)"

So i have negatively affected my record?!? Well, i guess i'll play faster from now on. It still doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but no big deal.

I'm also wondering, what does 15-20 seconds mean? Is that how they have programmed the application? :D I think it's got to be a fixed number... 15? 16? 16.23? 17.47653? 18? 20? Which one is the limit?