Winning on Time
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Hi Laust! I think it's time you toughened up a little, it's a dog-eat-dog world, and so it is in chess. Also, you need to think about the implications of your proposed "extend button". What happens if you play a game and are losing, your opponent runs out of time, and you graciously extend. The next game with the same opponent and the roles are reversed, only this time he doesn't extend in your favour! As I'm sure you can see this one situation has thrown up all sorts of moral questions. Without harping on about it, I can see other sportsmanship issues that may evolve from such a proposition. One last point...chess is a finite game, but your proposition allows the possibility of a pseudo-infinite game (the death of either combatant would probably halt the game in the end). 
Interesting philosophy... but this isn't turnament chess
My view is that I don't win/loss anything by playing chess here so I would prefer having a chess rating that reflected my actual skill level (and everyone elses), so that I could participate in challenging and interesting matches between people at roughly the same level.
I don't see how making a move and crossing your fingers your opponent is busy so that he cannot finish the game helps in that respect.
Since pressing the button is optional the "infinite game" you describe, would be one of choice, as time would run out again, you would have to choose to press the button again.
Sure there is a risk that some people would choose not to extend the time and thus gain cheap points no matter what you have done for them in the past. However, I would not have chosen to extend the game to help them, but to continue a game I was enjoying, if they don't see it the same way, I don't really care.
My view is that there is a difference between blitz chess and the games that we are playing here. The time limit is set to ensure people check in regularly so that people don't get punished because their opponent decides not to make a move. Not to test our ability to think under pressure (for 3 days per turn, there really isn't any). So why should we be punished by losing the opportunity to finish an interesting game just because an opponent forgets to use his vaccation time?
Again pressing the button is optional so you can still eat other dogs 
I do accept some of your points, but don't you think that up to 14 days a move, followed by 40 days vacation a year are sufficient for a game of chess? Also if the position was that interesting, why not agree to play the same moves again with the opponent. I think you may be surprised how few would take you up on your well-meant proposal.
I actually enjoy winning by time-out... they are usually annoying opponents (they're losing so slow down or stop playing) that also play lousy (not one of my opponents over 1650 has timed out) and I'm just glad to see the back of them! Saves me from dealing with more of their crap.
In over the board chess a win on time is still a win, and thankfully it is here too!
Nov 23, 2007
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#5
I also like the suggestion of an option to set autoflag on and off. Would be nice, especially when playing a game with a close friend and something unexpected comes up and they cannot set vacation on.
The only thing I would like to see is having an option that you dont get penalised for not moving at weekends, since i can't always get to the computer at weekends. Then i would play 1 day move games rather than 3
mxdplay4 wrote: The only thing I would like to see is having an option that you dont get penalised for not moving at weekends, since i can't always get to the computer at weekends. Then i would play 1 day move games rather than 3
It seems to me that what you're talking about is a different way of calculating time i.e. x moves in y days (x, y are natural numbers). This is how postal chess is played and a different game in some respects.
yeah, probably best to keep it simple
"It would be really nice if there was some kind of extend button visible to the winner, which he could choose to press, giving his opponent another period to make his move."
And I hope he comes back and beats you every time you give him another chance. Grow some backbone man!
I actually like this suggestion. Why not give my opponent one last chance?
If this is an optional feature, then only those who do not have backbones can extend the time to their opponents and all the toughies can just claim a win 
Reservesmonkey wrote:
"It would be really nice if there was some kind of extend button visible to the winner, which he could choose to press, giving his opponent another period to make his move."
And I hope he comes back and beats you every time you give him another chance. Grow some backbone man!
Again I think it shows a lot more backbone to actually take the fight instead of winning on a technicality...
I have absolutely no influence on whether he makes the move within the time limit or not (unlike blitz - since there the time is not reset) so how is winning like this a reflection of my skills?
The main problem I strongly believe is that wins on time often do not correctly represent playing ability.Not all time outs are deliberate so points can be awarded that strictly speaking were not earned on merit- and so are miss-leading.An " accidental win" of this nature is a statistical anomaly. There is a saying which runs "Lies, damned lies and statistics".None of which can be taken at face value.Perhaps a symbol could show when a "best win "was actually a time out ?
Ray_Brooks wrote: mxdplay4 wrote: The only thing I would like to see is having an option that you dont get penalised for not moving at weekends, since i can't always get to the computer at weekends. Then i would play 1 day move games rather than 3
It seems to me that what you're talking about is a different way of calculating time i.e. x moves in y days (x, y are natural numbers). This is how postal chess is played and a different game in some respects.
That's a good idea. Imagine something along the lines of at most three moves per day, and also the average time per move not to go beyond one day. So one would have to make a bunch of moves quickly to get three days for the next move. What do you think of that?
Vance917 wrote:Ray_Brooks wrote:mxdplay4 wrote:The only thing I would like to see is having an option that you dont get penalised for not moving at weekends, since i can't always get to the computer at weekends. Then i would play 1 day move games rather than 3
It seems to me that what you're talking about is a different way of calculating time i.e. x moves in y days (x, y are natural numbers). This is how postal chess is played and a different game in some respects.
That's a good idea. Imagine something along the lines of at most three moves per day, and also the average time per move not to go beyond one day. So one would have to make a bunch of moves quickly to get three days for the next move. What do you think of that?
Wouldn't there be an issue with people who play people on the other side of the world? If people aren't online at the same time, it is impossible to play a bunch of moves quickly.
Oh, and since this thread is revived. I really like the "Claim Win" option.
Great way to give us who want to give people the option of extending games without putting the people who do not in a worse situation.
The argument against having an option to give your opponent a second chance seems silly to me. If you don't want to extend time for an opponent then don't. Why prevent others from being able to do so? Other online chess sites have this option. I understand that some people are in it for the competition and they actually care about their number of wins and losses and that's great. Those people will probably not want to extend time for an opponent. I, for one, play simply because I enjoy the dialogue. Who "wins" isn't that important to me. Plus, I mostly only play with people I know IRL but can't easily get together with to play in person. I think a second chance option would be a great thing.
I have won a couple of games now on time, and I can't help feeling a bit tainted.
I know that it is in the rules, and I can understand that if it wasn't there some people might be tempted to stop making moves if they felt they wheren't winning. But my "Best Win" is now on time, eventhough I was 4 points down. Another game I won on time a couple of moves before my opponent would have checkmated me (I am relatively new at chess, so I play to the end as a lot of people recommend on the boards).
It would be really nice if there was some kind of extend button visible to the winner, which he could choose to press, giving his opponent another period to make his move.