I HATE the new live chess.  The first few moves are fine - smooth as butter.  Then the lag sets in.  Generally, this wouldn't be a problem, except that for whatever reason, the timer counts the lag against me.  In other words, I'll make an instant move (as soon as my opponent has moved), then look down at the clock to see that I've lost 4 seconds!!  In the old live chess, there was lag, but the timer was fair about it.  I lost three games today on time due to the lag.  I have no problem being beaten fair and square, but I hate being beaten by software bugs...can this be fixed???  Can the old live chess be resurrected?

the old live chess was REALLY bad about lag. i'm very surprised by what you are saying - every single other person i have talked to has said how lag has gone away. what browser are you using? what kind of connection - wireless?

Play longer games until they release Live Chess 3 in a couple of weeks!

Patience is the key.

I'm using IE8.  I recognize that the lag used to be much worse, but my time always seemed to be accurate regardless.  I think the new interface is great, but the clock issue gets to me; it's frustrating to be racing a pawn to the other side for a mate with 30 seconds left and getting hit for 5 seconds for each move, then losing on time.

I look forward to the new release.  Maybe I'll just have to play long-format games until then...

I've had NO PROBLEMS with clock accuracy.  I use firefox on a mac.  I play mainly speed games under 4 mins/game.

The lag is terrible in this site.  Even w/ pre move practically every move, lag is killing me

 second that

Mmm... I can concur about lag troubles. 1 minute games are just implayable.

What bothers me more is the impossibility to view the games being played. I'm sure there is much to learn from watching other's games while they play it. But this seems not possible (or did I miss something?)

Complaining,

Jazzdream :-s

I've given up on five minute.  Even against a good player, when you get down to the endgame and have a queen extra (one minute to play) you can't move fast enough to checkmate, as you are losing 4 or five seconds each move, even tho im playing instantly.  I know how to mate with a queen and k against k.  Opponents realize this so they never resign with a minute left.

My recommendation: Play with 5 seconds bonus time in all fast games ... I know, I know: that's not what you want to do. OK, well, endure the losses instead. Which is more or less palatable?

I have been very happy with all the tech improvements.  It runs very smoothly and fairly now, as I have experienced it.

You should start using the pre-moves. And in my opinion even without pre-moves 4-5 seconds per move is too slow. It should roughly take 1 second per move.

That lag has gone away is certainly an overstatement; it might be a little better than before but I am not sure. Anyway, I learned in Live 1 not to play blitz without increments. When your opponent sees that your timer is going up, that has a way of persuading them to resign in a lost position, or agree to draw when it's drawn. I believe that most blitz tournaments are also played with increments nowadays.

Blitz with incremental time is always safe. That is better on the board games as well. When you make the moves physically it is always better to give 3-5 seconds per move

Please remember the original post was made around six months ago.

Live chess is much better now. All thanks to Erik et al.