Please explain the timer in chess? My timer runs down and it seems that my opponents timer increases?

Question

Please explain the timer in chess? My timer runs down and it seems that my opponents timer increases?

Answer 1

Several things might be at play here. Did you select a game that had BOTH an initial time and increment time? Do you have a slow connection to the site? Do you have a habit of taking a long time (10 sec/move in a 5 minute game = 30 moves) in your games? Does your opponent disconnect and then re-enter the room, resetting his time?

Having had experience in all these since  playing at Yahoo Chess in the mid 90's let's look at each one.  Perhaps you will get something out of it.

First, if your games have an initial and increment time setting, likely your opponent is just faster on the mouse.  When I play speed chess in Portland OR, I have found that often it is not the position you have but the speed on the clock that wins.

Second, perhaps you have a slow connection.  I have played on dial up and broadband so if your connection is slower your play is slower.  Not all players are using the same type of internet connection. He who is faster will prevail.  Also since Yahoo is neutral, the time runs the same regardless.

Next, if you take a long time to move (longer than even your increment time allows), it is just a given that you are going to go down as your opponent goes up (as do his points).  Learn one opening for each color and play it against all comers and also play many games at 3-5 minutes (here and in real life).  I was always told by my chess teacher, you can't call yourself a chessplayer until you have suffered at least 1000 losses (I have suffered probably 5000 losses so I must be a master, right).

Finally, it is sad to say, but there are those that need an unfair advantage when playing for imaginary points.  All you can do is boot them since you can't flag them.

One last thing, under your profile, there is a ping button. Hit it and see what it displays in milliseconds.  If it is bellow 500ms, you are doing pretty good.

From all this, I would say you are experiencing scenarios two or three: you have slow internet connection and perhaps need to work on improving your speed chess handling of the clock, though it is a thing that disappears over time.  Trust me, you do not want to know how many times I have lost this way.

See you on the field of 64.

Answer 2

It depends what chess you are playing and the rules.

Generally both players start with the same amount of time, and the time runs down while they are thinking about and making their move.