| |
BGonline.org Forums
Elderly players and time clocks
Posted By: Bill Riles In Response To: Elderly players and time clocks (Marv Porten)
Date: Monday, 17 May 2010, at 6:18 p.m.
Generally, I think the current clock settings of 2 min/12 seconds are more than adequate for most play.
I have no problem with some sort of special consideration for physically challenged players -- I think the delay should be adjusted to 15 seconds or 18 seconds. Unfortunately, the delays can't be independently adjusted for the two players -- I think the physically able player gains an advantage on the opponent, and on the field, by having additional time.
Unfortunately, in San Francisco, it my understanding the elderly player lost two matches on time. Additionally, two other matches were decided by time. Several other matches came periously close to a time decision.
Some may view these results as an argument for increasing the clock settings. I think this would be wrong. The vast majority of players have proven the settings wholly adequate. Those who use poor clock management and take the risk of running out of time, or having to play the last part of the match with precious little time, do so at their own risk.
As examples, two matches I watched appeared that they would end early with lopsided scores. In each case, the leader played very cautiously and deliberatively in an attempt to close out the early victory. In each case, the trailer rallied and extended the match to DMP (the early leader won one and the early trailer the other, on time). In each case, the early leader was in severe time problems down the stretch, perhaps because of underestimating the length of the match. Such time management problems and complications, in my opinion, are but only another part of the game.
Hopefully, players learn from these errors and modify their play rather than joining any chorus to increase the time settings.
| |
BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.