I realize it's a lot to wade through, but have a look at some of the existing threads on the subject:
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/community/aggravating-situation
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/premium-disparity-in-level-playing-field
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/community/vacation-rule-unfair
Totally agree! make your move first
very persuasive
But back to the original question, you complain about players going on vacation and having more reflection time in some of their games but...if it's not their move in that game, then isn't it their opponent who gets more time?
If you go on vacation, your opponent's clock still ticks. So no, the opponent doesn't get more time for reflection when you go on vacation.
I've found also that when I am about to mate a paying member the browser suddenly freezes for about 40 secs and then redirects to my home page. I've tried to resume it just to find that the game isn't there anymore. Searching the games history also proved unavailing.
When confronted about the strange happenings, Eric told me to wear a Chess.com cap and head to the nearest chapel, where upon interview and at the master's discretion I'd be given instructions to locate the most convenient WCO-SH (Web of Chess.com Outposts - Southern Hemisphere) and talk to a woman called Rosana. I don't have a Chess.com cap.
I always make all my moves when I know I'm going "on vacation" but we had several ice storms this winter and I did not have internet access. So the auto-vacation feature kicked in even though it was my move in many games.
Schach, when I click on "Go On Vacation", my opponent still has to make a move and can lose on time when I am on vacation if they don't move in the allotted time. In that sense, they get no additional time for this move.
Once it is my move, yes, we both have more than the usual time to consider the move. In fact, I can take my whole vacation to think about the move. I do effectively have more than the allotted time to decide on the move.
The player going on vacation has the advantage in terms of more time to think, not the other way around.
I still think that because the ability to go on vacation is not limited to just premium members the provision of an automated means of turning it on would not really be all that unfair if it weren't for one thing: It overrides the requirement that it not be your move in any games before you can turn vacation mode on.
I'd still like to see non-premium members be able to turn vacation mode on for those games in which it is not their move and then be able to make moves in the remainder to switch them to vacation mode as well. With enough games and/or active enough opponents I can see how it could be quite difficult to ever turn your vacation on with the restriction as it is currently set up.
Of course some players who go on vacation are doing the same thing...but if they're really on a trip or have some other situation in their life that requires them to take a break from their games then I doubt they're spending lots of time on chess.
This is of course the proper way and proper reasons to use vacation.
I just wonder how many times this is the actual reason, just yesterday an opponent with 990 games going went on auto-protection vacation just before timing out against me. He wasn't taking a break, he was spending lots of time on chess, he just couldn't manage his schedule.(he moved about 2 hours into his vacation). I dont think vacation protection was designed for this.
This is of course the proper way and proper reasons to use vacation.
I think it's entirely up to the individual to decide how they use their vacation allotment -- it is, after all, a limited resource.
This is of course the proper way and proper reasons to use vacation.
I think it's entirely up to the individual to decide how they use their vacation allotment -- it is, after all, a limited resource.
I agree partially. Using vacation should be a decision. I'm going away for a few days later this month, and will use my vacation for the 1st time. That's a decision.
Not having to manage your games because you know protection will kick in again, and again, and again is abusing something that was intended for emergencies, IMO.
But let's just agree to disagree on this.
I always make all my moves when I know I'm going "on vacation" but we had several ice storms this winter and I did not have internet access. So the auto-vacation feature kicked in even though it was my move in many games.
The auto timer saved vacation has saved me a lot when I was studying for finals in university lol
Hey!
I have one question. Is it fair for premium members to get vacation time while they are on move, so they don't loose on time? I am fine with vacation when you finish all your moves, but to start auto-vacation when premium member is short on time is just unfair and against fair-play. That means that he has actually more time for his move, even though both players agree on time that one have for move. I repeat, i think it's ok to take vacation after you finish your move, with that you give opponent extra time for his move, but to take time off when it's actually your turn is unfair. What do you guys think?