Frequently Asked Questions

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Dragon time features
  • How does Dragon count time?
    On our turn-based server, the games clocks are designed mainly to avoid never ending games.
     
    The server maintains game clocks continuously, but the smallest displayed time unit for a game is one hour. Internally running game clocks are updated every 5 minutes.
     
    Caution: This means that when your clock displays one hour of time remaining, you might have only seconds left to play before your count will reach 0 and you will lose by time.
     
    The game clocks start as soon the game is accepted and they stop when the score is agreed upon.
    Caution: This means you can still lose by time during the final PASS or SCORE steps of a game.
  • What is main time?
    An initial time limit specified by main time is granted to each player.
     
    If the main time has run out, the game ...
  • When are my game clocks counted down?
    Your game clocks are counted down only, when it is your turn.
     
    They do not count down

    For a specific game a stopped game-clock is indicated with the following icons shown in the players info section on either the game-page right to the user names, or on the game-info page in the "Off-time"-row:
  • Does my opponent's clock count down when my clock is paused?
    If it is your turn to submit the next move: No.
     
    If it is the opponent's turn: Yes, provided it is not his sleeping time,
    it is not a weekend (in a game with disabled weekend clock) and he has not announced a vacation himself.
  • Can I submit a move while my game clock is paused?
    You can always submit a move when it's your turn -- even during your sleeping time, during your vacation and on weekends.
  • What is Dragon's weekend clock?
    When you offer to start a new game, you have an option, that the clock will not count down on Saturdays and Sundays.
     
    When the clock is stopped because of an ongoing weekend, this is shown with the (img)-icon in the players section:
    * on the game-page right to players name
    * on the game-info page in the Players table in the "Off-Time"-row
  • How does the Japanese byo-yomi time system work?
    When a player's main time is used up, there's a fixed time limit for each single move. Additionally there are several periods:
    • When the player moves within time, the countdown jumps to its initial value, and the number of periods is not changed.
    • When the player does not move in time, then the number of periods is decreased by one, and the countdown immediately starts again.

    When a player has no periods and no time left, the game is lost.
     
    Time limit format for Japanese byo-yomi (for example "J: 30d + 1d * 10"):
    "J: M"         : M=main-time, Absolute time (without byo-yomi)
    "J: M + B * P" : M=main-time, B=Byo-yomi-time, P=Byo-yomi-periods

    Time remaining format for Japanese byo-yomi:
    "J: m (-)"       : m main-time left (absolute time, no extra-periods)
    "J: m (+ B * p)" : m main-time left + extra-time (B time per move and p extra byo-yomi-periods left)
    "J: b (B * p)" : in byo-yomi (no '+'), b byo-yomi-time left + extra-time (B time per move and p extra byo-yomi-periods left)
    "J: b (B * 0)" : in byo-yomi (no '+'), b byo-yomi-time left, last byo-yomi-period
  • How does the Canadian byo-yomi time system work?
    When a player's main time is used up, there is a time limit to play several stones.
     
    Example: 10 stones within 15 days:
    If the player has submitted the 10th stone within time, then the countdown starts again (with 15 days for the next 10 stones).
     
    If the player does not move in time, the game is lost.
     
    Time limit format for Canadian byo-yomi (for example "C: 14d + 7d / 5"):
    "C: M"         : M=main-time, Absolute time (without byo-yomi)
    "C: M + B / P" : M=main-time, B=Byo-yomi-time, P=Byo-yomi-stones

    Time remaining format for Canadian byo-yomi:
    "C: m (-)"         : m main-time left (absolute time, no extra-time)
    "C: m (+ B / P)" : m main-time left + extra-time (B time per P stones)
    "C: b / p (B / P)" : in byo-yomi (no '+'), b byo-yomi-time left for p stones to play (extra-time is B time per P stones)
  • How does the Fischer time system work?
    After a player has submitted a move, the agreed upon "extra time per move" is added to the clock, up to a maximum specified by main time. See also game clock countdown.
     
    When a player has no time remaining the game is lost.
     
    This implements the "Capped Fischer time system", though DGS refers to this simply as "Fischer time".
     
    Time limit format for Fischer time (for example "F: 21d + 3d"):
    "F: M"     : M=main-time, Absolute time (without extra-time)
    "F: M + B" : M=main-time, B=extra-time per move

    Time remaining format for Fischer time:
    "F: m (-)"   : m main-time left (absolute time, no extra-time)
    "F: m (+ B)" : m main-time left + extra-time (B time extra per move)
  • What is sleeping time or night time?
    During the hours specified as "night time" (or "sleeping time") in your user profile your game clocks are paused and your remaining time does not count down. On the game page and game-info page this is indicated by the (img)-icon.
  • What time zone is used for my sleeping time?
    Dragon uses your local time zone (and daylight-saving time), set by yourself in your user profile.
  • Why did my game clock jump 9 hours down within 10 minutes?
    If you see jumping clocks, you should consider to take some sleep. ;-)
     
    When a game clock says you have 3 days time left, that means:
    You have 3 * (24-9) = 45 hours of non-sleeping time.
     
    When a game clock says you have 2 days and 14 hours left, that means:
    You have 2 * (24-9) + 14 = 44 hours of non-sleeping time.
  • How does sleeping time affect Fischer time?
    To explain it, an example:
     
    You want an average of 3 moves for each week, and you do not want the game to time out on Saturdays or Sundays.
     
    That is (7 - 2) days * (24 h - 9 h sleeping time) / 3 moves = 25 hours extra per move Fischer time with disabled weekend clock.
  • What are vacation days?
    You can pause your game clocks when you enjoy your holidays or if an (unexpected) business trip interferes with your running games.
     
    Please use the Start vacation link on your Userinfo page to schedule and start your vacation. Your "On Vacation status" will be announced on your Status and User Info pages, for example: 4 days and 3 hours left.
  • How many vacation days do I have at Dragon?
    Up to 30 (maximum per year). Each month 2.5 vacation days are added to your account.
  • Why is the use of vacation days limited?
    If there were no limits, then you (or your opponent) could repeatedly take just one vacation day to avoid a time-out. That would make the previously negotiated time limits meaningless.
     
    Thus Dragon limits the use of vacation days as follows:
    • already started vacations can not be canceled.
    • if you started a vacation you are allowed to reduce the amount of days you are on vacation to a minimum of 2 days.
  • Can I add time to my opponent's game clock?
    Yes, you can add more time to your opponent's game clock at any time except for tournament games. Follow the link at the bottom on the game-page. Set up the additional time you want to give your opponent below the Go board. You can add days to the main-time for all time-systems (Japanese/Canadian byo-yomi and Fischer time) and/or reset the byo-yomi periods (for Japanese/Canadian byo-yomi). Notes about added time is displayed in the game-info box on the game-page.
     
    For tournament games, adding time by the players is not allowed, so that the tournament-director can limit the estimated amount of time that players will spend on the tournament-games. Some tournament director are allowed to add time to a tournament game on their own discretion.
  • Can I add time to my own game clock?
    No, you can't, but your opponent may be willing to grant you more time.
     
    It's uncommon and impolite to beg for more time just to get more thinking time, so don't be upset when your opponent denies such a request.
  • Can a timed-out game be revived?
    No. Please start your new games with appropiate time limits!
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