I think a far better solution for the timing before the 'declare victory field' comes up, when a disconnect occurs, would be to significantly extend the time the disconnected user (du) has to restore her connection if one of the following conditions is met:
* The du has a piece advantage in terms of points.
* The du has more time than the connected user.
The connected user should never be able to stop the game if the du has more time!
"The connected user should never be able to stop the game if the du has more time!"
Why?
#1 Such changes would encourage players to stay ahead on the clock and to not sacrifice material (for fear the opponent may disconnect and they'd need to wait longer).
I think the first point is very good. Sure the edge cases of sacrifices like #3 mentions might suffer but in the vast majority of cases, an advantage on points would mean that player is in a good enough position at least to not abandon the game
It would be nice to know how the number of people leaving games from legitimate disconnects stacks up against rage quitters
Whst if I have more time but a Q down? :)
"The connected user should never be able to stop the game if the du has more time!"
I don't like that idea. How much time should a person waste waiting? If people are disconnected they might never come back. Connected users should have the choice they have now which is wait or claim a win or a draw.
I thank goodness for that choice. At other chess websites people have to waste their time waiting for the disconnected person's time to run out.
To answer #2... 'Why'?
Because the connected user should have to wait at least as long as the amount of time that she has used up playing this game before a win should be allowed.
I don't find it fair. If you disconnect you lose the game in the same amount of time of the other players, regardless of your remaining time, of your rating, etc
That is the point, the current system is unfair. If, for example I am playing a 20 minute game and my opponent has 10 minutes left on his clock and I have 18 minutes left and I am in an advantageous position. Then I get disconnected and I have to reboot my router, I get back to the game within 5 minutes and find that I have lost the game. I should still have at least 12 minutes on my clock. I have already waited longer than my opponent had and my game should NOT be automatically forfeited. The current system is inherently unfair.
