ICC Help: LagCompensation

The Flexible Lag Compensation system is designed to make games more competitive by compensating clocks for average lag (help lag), but not returning excessive lag time to the clock. This helps avoid uncomfortable (and seemingly unfair) playing conditions, where a player develops excessive lag during a game, prolonging the agreed upon time control and disrupting the flow of a game.

This system is only active during pool games and prize tournaments. Regular games on ICC are not affected by Lag compensation.

During pool games and prize tournamentss, you will be compensated for up to one second (1000 milliseconds) of lag per move. If your lag is less than one second, as it is for 98% or 99% of players, none of the lag will be charged to your clock. If it exceeds one second during any move, your first second of lag time is "free" and any additional lag time will be charged to your clock.

The Flexible Lag Compensation system is adjustable, allowing for unusual cases where there is a reasonable need to be more lenient or more strict. One example is that during major prize tournaments, lag is currently only compensated to 300 milliseconds, which helps to avoid a situation where one player out of 500 with computer problems can delay the end of each round for all other players, while receiving no penalty himself.

To check your current lag, to see if your lag is within the acceptable range, use the "ping" command. (help ping). To check the average lag for all members connected to ICC, use the "lagstats" command. (help lagstats). You can find other useful information about lag, and how to reduce your own lag in help lag.

If you are experiencing higher than normal lag, playing a longer time control, or a time control with increments will help ensure that your excessive lag does not negatively affect you and result in a loss on time.# 2010-05-12 FREEBIRD edited via web form