Saturday Events Time Controls

As posted in the club News, Saturday events are here (at 11 Pacific, 2 Eastern), at least for a little while. The first event, will be a 3|3 but we would like to get some input on what time controls people would like to see. I know there have been topics in the past about it, but I would like to gather suggestions here in this topic.

It is very likely we will have a rotating schedule, giving room for a few different time controls, though if there is a consensus that one specific time control is best, then we can do that instead

There are some limitations:

• Base time control has to be at least 3 minutes
• Base time plus increment has to be at least 5 and at most 29

So, let us know what you think.

I prefer 10|0 and 15|0.

Incremental games are good, but some games takes longer than others and we don't know when the next round start. This makes us wait in front of the screen in the fear of missing the next round.

With 0 increments games we could estimate the start of next round and take a break if our game finish earlier. 

I like 10|0 or 15|2, but 15|0 would be fine.

Thanks! I really like the idea of Saturday events! I haven't hardly participated because the present schedule does not suit my schedule.

10|0 would be fun

I prefer 15/0  then 10/0

You still run a risk with that method, since all the games could finish a lot earlier than expected.

29 minutes.

I prefer 5|5

I REALLY like 15/10, but I'm of course jazzed about Saturday events in general.

I prefer 15/10.  3/3 is way too fast for me.

3|3 is probably just for the first one. I wanted to have something scheduled and thought since it is on 3/3 that would be interesting.

Yes, longer time controls would be good. 15/10 is excellent.

29

If your keeping count, I'd prefer 5/0 - 10/0. I don't prefer increments. But, as others have said, I'll take anything on a saturday

If you figure a 10 second increment with an average 40 move game where both players max out their time you would add 800 seconds or 13 minutes and 20 seconds. On top of a 15 minute initial time you are looking at a max of about 30 minutes. Of course, there could be rare occurrences where the game went longer. Few and far between, though it will happen some times

.

I want to contribute to the votes for 15|10. It is my favorite time control. 3|3 is way too fast for me.

I think it should be 3|2 or 29 minutes.

15|10 please... It would be really nice to have more USCF experience/opportunities for lower level/beginning players. I've been to 2 local tournaments so far and I can confidently say that really fast controls don't do me much good as learning experiences.  On the flip side, it's hard to find good chances to compete and learn between these tourneys that are weeks and months apart, which is why I joined this group.

...P.S. what I'd REALLY wish for is 30 min... but I can see where that would get time consuming for the admins and difficult to police cheating.

Can't. That adds up to more than 29.

30-65 minute events (base plus increment/delay) are dual-rated and the USCF does not allow regular rated online chess, at least not under conditions played here.