Does anyone have any tips for avoiding online games with flakes?  You know, they make one or two moves then time out? 

Thanks,
Roy

the flakes are usually lower rated.  You can set up your rating minimum up to 1400 or better.  You can't predict, so if they are running you out of time, time to read a book or do something else.  You can try to report them and let others know.  You can pick a slightly different time control.  Some only pick on certain time controls.  You can play weak, out of the book moves to lull them into thinking you are a weak player, then play stronger as you get into the game (I like to play awful, out of the book moves fro my blitz games - 1.a3 or 1 g4 or 1.Na3 or  1.f3 followed by 2.Kf2 - but do that with caution.  Works great with weaker players.  You can start a blitz game and an online game, and play at different paces.  Or you can just avoid online chess and play at the Tacoma Chess Club where I started in 1969.

Thats funny. I went there tonight for the first time!

I guess I should have been more specific in my original question.  I was specifically thinking about the online slower play chess.

Before accepting open seeks view the seeker's statistics.

When creating open seeks set Minimum Games and Max Timeout %.

Try to join tournaments where the Tournament Director has set these restrictions.

Avoid new people since they tend to get bored and leave after starting a couple of games.

Thanks for those tips.