“Game Abandonment”

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Martin_Stahl
DanielConn wrote:
I’m starting to get very frustrated with the way that chess.com handles “game abandonment”. I recently built a new PC, and I’m forced to use a TP link for Ethernet connection to my internet via powerline. However unfortunately this isn’t perfect, as I get regular internet connection cut outs that last around 30-40 seconds. Why in the world does chess.com automatically give my opponent the win after only 30 SECONDS of me being disconnected from the servers? Not everyone has perfect internet connection, and surely we should be entitled to all of the time on our clock in the game? I can’t even explain how many countless times I’ve been in a completely winning position and then lost due to my internet briefly cutting out for 30 seconds, even though I still had 2+ minutes on my clock, and chess.com just automatically gives my opponent the win. I’d have literally 100+ more ELO rating if it weren’t for this. I’m sure there are many others, particularly in poorer countries, where this is a common problem. I’d maybe understand having the game abandonment in Rapid or longer games (10+ minutes per player), but even then at least give the players 5 minutes to reconnect. 30 seconds is a joke, and it’s an absolute joke that ‘game abandonment’ is even implemented in Blitz. I hope there are others like me who want this removed in blitz, it’s the only time frame I enjoy playing

 

Allowed disconnect time and abandonment depends on the time control. If you are having major issues, you probably should play longer time control games.

 

https://support.chess.com/article/213-how-do-i-fix-my-disconnect-lag-issues

 

https://support.chess.com/article/338-how-does-game-abandonment-work

baddogno

Unfortunately, people do walk away from games, even in blitz.  Maybe 30 seconds is a little short, but if there were no game abandonment rule, then the complaints would be about having to wait so long after a game was abandoned.  

user0719

You have to realize that this policy may be, in effect, the lesser of two evils. On the one hand you have an unstable connection and sometimes your opponent has to wait 30 seconds, which I agree is not unreasonable even in 3 min. Blitz. But then on the other side, you have a LOT of rather immature players who just automatically hit the disconnect button the second they feel their game is threatened. In these cases, which are numerous, the 30-second time out rule makes a lot more sense. Otherwise many innocent players would have to wait 2 minutes or longer just because of some hot head player.