THREE-MINUTE

***** THREE-MINUTE *****

Command:  three-minute
     or:  3-minute

This is a different rating category and way to find an opponent.
You just do the command "3-minute" and the system will automatically
pair you with an opponent, usually someone near your rating and
someone you haven't played in the last few games.  You may have
to wait a bit before it makes the pairing and starts the game,
depending on how many other appropriate opponents are joining the
playing pool.

The games are 3 0 time control and have a separate 3-minute rating. They
are not rated in the blitz category. The goal is that by not allowing people
to hand-pick their opponents, not only will the ratings be more accurate, but
also there won't be nonsense like having people avoid playing you when you're
underrated.

Once the game starts, you should finish it.  Disconnections are
treated as losses.  (Except in the rare case when both players are
severely lagging, in which the game is aborted.)  Of course, we
realize that this means that players with unreliable network
connections will tend to have lower ratings.  But this rule eliminates
a whole set of possible abuses and disputes.

Computers and computer-assisted players are not allowed to play.
Please do not get assistance from chess engines, databases, or
from other players while playing.  

You won't be able to play a 3-minute game if your average lag for your
current login session is more than 1000 milliseconds.  You can see your
average lag by typing "ping".

The requirement for having an active 3-minute rating (once you have
established a rating by playing 20 games) is 8 games in the last
week.  

Noplay and censor lists and formula are ignored by the 3-minute
pairing system.

If two players waiting to be paired have an adjourned game (of any
type), the pairing system will resume that game.

You can leave the pool of players waiting to be paired by typing
"match" or "unseek".

Three-minute play is normally only available on the main server,
chessclub.com.

See also: one-minute, five-minute, fifteen-minute, forty-five-minute, seeking, ratings