https://support.chess.com/customer/portal/articles/1444849
Why did the clock times suddenly change? The clocks
seem broken!
Don't worry - the clocks are not broken. This jumping is caused either by Internet lag,
or because of bonus time. Here is how lag works on chess.com:
You make a move, the move gets sent to our server, & then your opponent's computer.
We adjust the clocks dynamically so that neither player is "charged" for communication time -
but rather, only for the time actually spent thinking.
A very extreme example:
Imagine it takes 5 seconds for the move to hit our server, then another 5 seconds for the move
to hit your opponent's computer from there. Your opponent will not see this move until 10
seconds after you make it, but your opponents clock will usually start counting down on your
screen when the move hits our server. Then, let's say your opponent thinks for a total of 10
seconds. After this, it takes another 5 seconds for the move to be transmitted to our servers,
and another 5 seconds for the move to now go to your computer.
So, you have been waiting for this move for roughly 30 seconds (10 seconds total travel time,
10 seconds thinking time, and another 10 seconds total travel time), and your opponents clock
has been counting down for roughly 25 seconds. But since your opponent only spent 10
seconds thinking, that's all the time they get charged for. So, when their move finally hits your
computer, their clock display re adjusts for the 15 extra seconds that your opponent wasn't
actually thinking. Meanwhile, your
clock display on your end will only count down while you are thinking. There is no need
for correction on your end (and remember, your clock is adjusting similarly on your
opponent's screen).
Fortunately, in reality, travel times are usually less than what is described above.
(In fact, we only allow members to play if their detected lag is two seconds or less.) However, the
travel times are not consistent, so adjustments must be made dynamically. There is no way
around it: all real-time chess servers have to deal with lag, though other sites are a bit
less transparent about it.
I am loosing matches on time because this [removed -- VP] app is raking minutes off of my clock!! My opponents are taking much more thin to move and they still have between 15-20 minutes left. Fix the damm clock!!!