The purpose of this file is to answer some frequently asked questions about
adjudicating games. Keep in mind while reading this, that the bottom line
is that we want the game to finish "normally". We will do all we can to
make your opponent resume if there is any questions at all about the
game. Before you read this FAQ please read up on help adjudicate and
help adjudicate2.
Q1: What is an adjudication?
An adjudication is when a specially designated admin (usually called the
judge, or the adjudicator) steps in and rules on an adjourned game as a
win, loss, draw or abort in favor of one of the players. This is usually
done upon request of one of the parties to an adjourned game whose opponent
does not log in anymore or refuses to resume.
Q2: How do I request an adjudication?
A: For users of blitzin 2.18 or any later version, there is a nifty
shoftcut to request adjudication. First, log-in with blitzin, then you
type --> stored. This will get you a list of your adjourned games. If
you want to see what the final position looks like then double-click on the
game in question.
From the list of adjourned games please right-click on the game you want
adjudicated and then choose --> adjudicate. A dialog box comes up which
you then just fill up. There is an illustrated example of this in the
website http://www.chessclub.com/b2primer/introadj.html
For all the other interfaces you have to request adjudication in the same
old way, you use the command request-win opponent_name reason. Some examples:
To ask for a win, you type (without the quotation marks and brackets)
"request-win <opponent name> <reason for seeking adjudication>". Example
"request-win RobertoPeang the dude disconnected on me 1 move before mate"
To ask for a draw, you type (without the quotation marks and brackets)
"request-draw <opponent name> <reason for seeking adjudication>". Example
"request-draw RobertoPeang the dude disconnected before I could claim draw
via 3-fold repetition"
To ask for an abort, you type (without the question marks and brackets)
"request-abort RobertoPeAng Our endgame is equal but my opponent has not
logged in for the past 6 months.
To ask for a loss (completely useless paragraph, you may skip this and go
to the next paragraph), type "resign opponent_name" without, of course, the
quotation marks.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take a look at the position first before sending it in
for adjudication. Type "stored" to see a list of your adjourned games, and
then double-click on the game in question.
Q3: I got a message from ROBOadmin telling me I had a stored game with Fred,
whose account has expired. It also tells me that the game will be
auto-aborted in 7 days, and that if I don't want an abort I should seek
adjudication. My question is, if I do request adjudication, will I get a
win for it, even if my position wasn't winning?
A: You DON'T get the win automatically. The purpose of the adjudication
process is to get you the points you would have won, had the game
continued. If your position is losing, or equal, or the game is still in
the opening, please do not seek adjudication. Allow ROBOadmin to
auto-abort the game.
Q4: My opponent just disconnected in a lost position. Must I wait for a week
before submitting an adjudication request?
A: Yes...unless a mate is forced. Please wait a week to try for
adjudication. Remember, most of our members dial-up for their internet
access, and disconnections can and do happen (ISP crashed, 5 year old son
pulled the plug, wife hit you with a blunt instrument, etc.
etc.) Statistically, 90% of disconnects are unintentional, so we try to
give the person a chance to resume it on their own.
Q5: Are the ratings of the two players taken into consideration in the
adjudication process?
A: Yes. Ratings are taken into account. For masters being a rook up is
probably a decisive advantage already, but for the rating-challenged it
might not be enough.
Q6: If my opponent censors/noplays me, is that grounds for a loss?
A: Not by itself, but it does weigh heavily against him when the game is
being evaluated. For example, if someone hangs a piece, then disconnects,
then noplays his opponent, he has already removed all reasonable doubt that
the disconnection was done to avoid loss, so a request for adjudication
will most probably be treated favorably.
Q7: But my opponent was continuously insulting me during the game, causing
me to disconnect. Do you mean even under these circumstances I cannot
censor them?
A: You are free to censor anybody AFTER your game with them has been
finished. Not during. If your position is lost and you absolutely can't
stand your opponent then I suggest you resign the game and THEN
censor. You are also encouraged to send a message to lateknight, the
owner-in-charge of online activities, and tell him about the abuse you got
from so-and-so member. Lateknight is very protective of ICC members, and
will "take care" of the offender.
Q8: I got disconnected in a lost position. How do I request adjudication to
give me a loss?
A: You don't have to. Just type "resign opponent_name" (without the
quotation marks) and the game will automatically be scored in favor of your
opponent.
Q9: My adjourned game is on the 12th move, still in the opening books.
Please adjudicate a draw/abort.
A: Your adjourned game might still be in the books, so presumably it might
still be equal. There is a truism that there are equal positions which
people of a particular style like to play and, in the same vein, equal
positions you cannot stand the sight of. We can't tell the difference in
your case so we encourage game resumption. Of course, there is nothing to
prevent you from offering a draw/abort to your opponent (type "draw
opponent_name" or "abort opponent_name" without the quotation marks, as the
case may be), they just might accept!
Q10: What is the disconnectors' list?
A: players who continually disconnect to avoid losing are added to the
"disconnectors' list" and automatically lose when they disconnect in the
future. For first-time offenders usually a promise not to do so again will
get them off the list, but for second-time offenders there is a mandatory
60-day waiting period before they can request to be removed from the
list. For repeat-repeat offenders, well, this will be treated on a
case-to-case basis. As a general rule, the adjudicate-admin will hammer
them with no mercy and make their lives miserable.
Q11: The disconnectors' list is useless. All they have to do is create
another account.
A: You cannot escape the disconnectors' list by creating another account or
changing your handle. The tag will follow you no matter what name you are
using now.
Q12: Do I need to message someone about players who disconnect on me?
A: No. just send in your adjudication request, and it will be noted in
their admin file.
Q13: How many disconnects will result in your becoming a "disconnector"?
A: it is not based solely on how many disconnects, but how flagrant the
disconnects are. In other words, frequently disconnecting to avoid
mate-in-one, or disconnecting when king and queen is forked, etc.
Q14: Does the adjudicate team ever make a mistake in adjudicating a game?
A: Of course they do. My favorite expression is "people make
mistakes". The team receives around 400 adjudication requests a day, and
although they all treat their work seriously and evaluate requests as
carefully as possible mistakes inevitably crop up. If you feel your game
was adjudicated wrongly, send a regular message to adjudicate. Remember, BE
SURE to save the game in question in your library so that it can be acted
upon even after it disappears from your history file. Use the libappend
command (help libraries).
Q15: My opponent had been given a warning to resume within 7 days, or risk
forfeiture. It is now 10 days but still the game has not been
resolved. Why can't adjudicate do anything right?
A: The adjudicate team fields more than 2,000 requests a week, and there
are several members on this team, each one fully empowered to send out
warnings, requests-to-resume, and the like. It is perhaps a bit unfair to
expect each and every member of the team to remember all the deadlines
given, both by him and the other members. When your opponent still refuses
to resume even after the allotted time has expired, then please send in
another request for adjudication, taking care to mention that he had
previously been given the 7-day warning.
Q16: I was playing a game but at one point my opponent lagged heavily. I was
aimlessly clicking on my pieces waiting for my opponent to be disconnected
from the server when the connection suddenly became alive, and executed a
move I had no intention of making. In fact, the move was a very bad one
which hung my queen and turned my winning position into a loss. Please
abort this game.
A: I am afraid that the adjudicate team only looks at positions, not
circumstances. If the adjourned position is losing for you then you will
get a loss. You have our sympathy, but there is no other way to treat
this. If you feel bad about this "accident" then challenge your opponent
to another game and this time beat the stuffing out of him! If you lose
yet again then we suggest you read "My System" by Nimzovich.
Q17: My opponent cheated with a computer. I have sent a complaint to
speedtrap, so please abort my game.
A: The same reply as above is applicable here - the adjudicate team only
looks at the adjourned position, and the fact that you have lodged a
complaint for computer-abuse against your opponent does not change their
assessment of the position. You are, of course, free to noplay your
opponent after the stored game has been resolved.
Q18: My game is dead drawn, but I am almost out of time, can I disconnect and
get the draw by adjudication?
A: As a general rule we have a no-benefit-from-disconnection rule. if you
want a draw then offer one, go for the 50-move rule, or go for three-fold
repetition. if you can't stand losing on time, then play with an increment.
If you disconnect in order to ask for a draw, then do not be surprised if
it is scored against you (disconnection to avoid loss, remember?). Also
see the answer to the next question.
Q19: Shouldn't players be forfeited immediately if they disconnect?
A: Of course not. Once again I state: 90% of all disconnections are
unintentional. If you really want to play games which must be finished in
one sitting then I suggest you either
(1) confine your playing to 1-minute or 5-minute games, or
(2) do "set noescape on" and "set formula noescape". This will ensure
that you play only opponents who are similarly minded, and who don't mind
being forfeited in case of disconnections. More details on this feature
are available in help noescape
Q20: does the message I send to you with the adjudication request play a big
role?
A: Not a big role, but it helps. If your opponent's account has expired
then please say so. These are usually the first requests to be acted upon.
If your opponent has censored and/or noplayed you then please mention it
too. It is generally a good idea to be polite too. The adjudicate-admins
receive around 50 insults a day, and courtesy is something they appreciate
very much!
Q21: can wild games be adjudicated?
A: yes. Most Wild games can be adjudicated the same as other types of chess.
Q22: why does adjudicate insist on a particular format? why can't I just
send a "regular" message?
A: the request-win format solves many problems. For instance, it makes sure
you have the right opponents name, and that the game exists. It also is
automatically erased if you and your opponent continue the game on your
own. Please do not send adjudicate a regular message, your message will not
be handled.
Q23: are games adjudicated on priority basis? Is the first one to ask the
first one to be adjudicated?
A: all requests are dealt with within 24 hours, so there is no rule on
prioritizing. But we usually deal with the expired accounts first, since
they are easy to adjudicate.
Q24: how about those who disconnect after losing material before 5 moves are
made?
A: Starting in August 2005, such games are generally adjourned as well, so
you can use request a win in the usual fashion, if necessary. (Until then,
the server would automatically abort such games.)
Q25. How do these rules apply to tomato tournament games?
A. A player who loses connection in a tomato tournament, and who doesn't
return in time, will forfeit the round in the tournament, regardless of how
good or bad his position is. This will affect his standing in the
tournament, but it will not affect his rating. The game will be adjourned
(unless it is a noescape game, the player is on the disconnectors' list,
etc.), and should be handled, after the tournament, like a regular
adjourned game: it should be resumed, or the parties can agree to abort it,
or agree on a draw, or one party can resign it. If a player refuses to
continue, the other player can request an adjudication.
Q26. I had a winning position in the last round of a tomato tournament, but I
lost my connection. It took me a long time to reconnect, and when I did,
the manager had forfeited my game! I should have won the tournament. How
can I get the tournament result changed?
A. Unfortunately, you can't. The managers can't adjudicate games based on
'who is ahead'. Tournament rounds have to be completed on time. The
tournament is over, but you still have the right to complete the adjourned
game with your opponent and win the rating points at least.
Q27. My opponent in a tomato tournament was disconnected, and I won the game
by forfeit. Why do I still have the adjourned game in my stored games?
Shouldn't my opponent resign?
A. Your win by forfeit is valid for the purposes of determining the
standings in the tournament, but the game doesn't yet have a result. Your
opponent is under no obligation to resign. The adjourned game should be
resolved like any other adjourned game. You can agree to resume the game,
or offer a draw, or offer to abort it, or, if you are really lost on the
board, you can resign it.
Written by Robertopeang, with contributions from natnee and several admins.
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ICC Help: adjFAQ