clocks FICS uses the Fischer "clock" for all of its games. The Fischer clock can work just like a normal chess clock if the player wishes. There are two parameters to the clock that you can issue with seek and match requests. The first is 'time', the second is 'increment' (or just 'inc'); for example: match TheDane 5 0 The first example, would challenge TheDane a "5 0". The first number, '5', means both players will have 5 minutes to start with. The second number, '0', means that 0 seconds will be added to the clock after each player moves. This means that all the moves will have to be completed in 5 minutes. In the second example, the increment is 8. This means that 8 seconds will be added to the clock after each move so if you move within 8 seconds, your time will increase. In normal chess, different settings of the clock come under different ratings (lightning, blitz and standard). A standard measure of expected duration is 'etime' which is the maximum time possible to take per player for 40 moves; the formula to calculate 'etime' is mentioned in these help files. SPECIAL NOTE ------------ o It is possible to set a default value for 'time' and 'inc' by setting your 'time' and 'inc' variables (default is time = 2 and inc = 12). To change the default setting 'set time <time>' and 'set inc <inc>'. o If the inital 'time' is set to 0 each player will have 10 seconds. If the 'inc' also is set to 0, e.g. 'match theDane 0 0', the game will become untimed and the clocks will not be used. o It is possible to ask the opponent for a suspension in the game. This is done with the pause command and the game can later be started with unpause. o The time command will show the current time left on the clocks. o refresh will show the current time left on the clocks and also update the board if an interface is being used unless blind mode (style 9) is used. o Internet lag can affect the clocks. FICS doesn't know that a player has moved until the move reaches FICS. Therefore any transmission time is also included. Timeseal is a program that compensates for this transmission time (and is essential for faster speeds). Timeseal comes with most interfaces. o If the opponent runs out of time, you have to claim the win by flagging. If a player is lagging with timeseal, he will not be able to be flagged, the clocks will be adjusted when he gets connected again. If the player is out of time according to FICS, but it is not possible to tell if the player has moved before the flag fell, adjourn will force an adjournment without the player's consent (known as courtesyadjourn). However, if any of the players are unregistred the game will be aborted (courtesyabort) instead. o It is possible to filter match and seek requests with certain time controls using a formula. o The time unit of measure on the server is milliseconds. o Premove (preparing a move during the opponent's time and getting an interface to play it as soon as the opponent's move is received) is not illegal at present, but is discouraged. Moreover it is possible that it will be forbidden in the future. Moving (but not letting go of) a piece when it is not the player's turn and then releasing the mouse button when it is the player's turn, is not illegal and is not discouraged (since there is some human response time involved). o A move will take at least 1/10 of a second if any of the players have the variable minmovetime set to 1, which removes some of the benefit of using premove. If all players have minmovetime set to 0 then faster moves can be made. SEE ALSO -------- adjourn blitz flag formula interface lag lag lightning match paus pause refresh seek set standard style time timeseal unpause untimed v_inc v_minmovetime v_time AUTHORS ------- Created: 19 March 1999 DAV Last Modified: 28 February 2008 mhill
