I prefer 30-40 minutes main time with 3-5x 30s byo-yomi.
I have come to appreciate Canadian overtime for longer games though. I tend to drink coffee or tea while I play. Running to the bathroom during a long endgame is possible with Canadian, but not really an option with Japanese times.
If I'm playing a long game with Japanese times, I'll almost always take a break with around 5:00 left on my clock, just to be safe.
What is your preferred time setting?
-
Calvin Clark
- Lives in gote
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2015 8:43 am
- GD Posts: 0
- Has thanked: 186 times
- Been thanked: 191 times
Re: What is your preferred time setting?
OTB, I think the best time control is no time control. The clubs I've played in don't use clocks. Unless it's a tournament, I think that's best.
Online, I've used everything from 10 minutes absolute, which is crazy, to organized online classes with 45 minutes main time + 5x30 byoyomi. They are all playable but take time to get used to. After a couple of months playing only 10 minutes absolute, it can seem pretty normal, but I don't know if it is easy to improve that way.
When I started playing, I was on IGS playing mostly 1/5 and 1/10 games*. I lost a lot of 1/5 game just on time, but I didn't care. If I wanted a game worth studying, I would choose 1/10. But 1/5 kept things moving and I was a beginner. Later on, I drifted toward longer time limits, but after my daughter was born, it was hard to get any kind of game in.
The one thing I can't do is play turn-based go with time limits. I will lose on time a lot, because after couple of weeks into the game, I may lose interest in the game or in playing the obligatory move of the day. Somehow, being forced to play or lose takes all the fun out of the game. I have never tried turn-based games without time limits and I may give that a shot some time.
My favorite online setting is the KGS automatch "fast" time control, which 10:00+5x0:20. I can usually finish the game in less than 1 hour, and although there is definitely pressure, it's probably about 80% quality for me.
[*] 1/5 is shorthand for 1 minute main time, 25 moves in 5 minutes Canadian byoyomi.
Online, I've used everything from 10 minutes absolute, which is crazy, to organized online classes with 45 minutes main time + 5x30 byoyomi. They are all playable but take time to get used to. After a couple of months playing only 10 minutes absolute, it can seem pretty normal, but I don't know if it is easy to improve that way.
When I started playing, I was on IGS playing mostly 1/5 and 1/10 games*. I lost a lot of 1/5 game just on time, but I didn't care. If I wanted a game worth studying, I would choose 1/10. But 1/5 kept things moving and I was a beginner. Later on, I drifted toward longer time limits, but after my daughter was born, it was hard to get any kind of game in.
The one thing I can't do is play turn-based go with time limits. I will lose on time a lot, because after couple of weeks into the game, I may lose interest in the game or in playing the obligatory move of the day. Somehow, being forced to play or lose takes all the fun out of the game. I have never tried turn-based games without time limits and I may give that a shot some time.
My favorite online setting is the KGS automatch "fast" time control, which 10:00+5x0:20. I can usually finish the game in less than 1 hour, and although there is definitely pressure, it's probably about 80% quality for me.
[*] 1/5 is shorthand for 1 minute main time, 25 moves in 5 minutes Canadian byoyomi.