Steady Average Timing

    Keywords: Tournament

Definition

Steady Average Timing is the time system where

  • one gets an initial period of time,
  • time used for each move is deducted,
  • and an extra period of time is added after exactly N moves were made in a period.

Note: The rest time of the current period is not "spilled", i.e. the next period does not begin until the remaining time of the current period is fully used. Additional moves made in that period do not matter (no additional period added if 2N moves are made).
A new period is added always rightmost/in the future, see line 3 in diagram below.

Extra periods are of same size, the initial one may differ.
A move is in a period if it ends before the period ends but not before the period starts.

In other words, one is required having made a minimum number of moves in each period.


Diagram

|------|         periods before (one period)
|---|            time for N moves
    |--|------|  periods after (two periods)

Alex: Surely a simpler way to phrase it is:

"Time is broken down into a series of X-minute periods. During each of those periods, you must make at least N moves or lose the game. Moves beyond N within a given period are made at the player's discretion, but they do not count towards the moves required for the next period, nor does the next period begin until the full time for the current period elapses."

Diagram:

|------|------|------|------|------|------|------| ...         periods of time

Make n moves in each period.


Remarks

The difference to Canadian Timing is that resetting of time and stones happens when time runs out, not stones.

The drawback of Steady with a plain clock is a periodically falling flag. On the first look there seems to be no problem:

  • some stones left -- you lost
  • all stones gone -- next period

However, this is not correct. Why? Because a move is not complete when the stone hit the board, but when the clock was hit. Otherwise we had to decide if or not a stone hit the board earlier than the flag fell, which is virtually impossible. So, the criterion has to be something like

  • lid closed -- you lost
  • lid open -- next period

loading another duty on the player's neck: operating the lid.

With only a plain clock, Steady Average has to be emulated -- see below.


Emulation

The player

  • gets the initial period,
  • gets N stones,
  • and closes his lid (shuts his supply).

If the player runs out of time with lid closed:

  • the player loses on time.

If the player runs out of time with lid open:

  • the opponent stops both clocks,
  • the opponent puts one extra period on the player's clock,
  • the player counts out N stones,
  • the player closes his lid,
  • they check,
  • and the opponent starts the player's clock again.

If the player runs out of stones:

  • (relaxed version)
    • the player hits his clock and opens his lid.
  • (strict version)
    • the player stops both clocks,
    • the player opens his lid,
    • they check,
    • and the player starts the opponent's clock.

Questions

Tderz: Fischer Timing would also fall under this definition, wouldn't it? The Fischer-seconds are added after exactly one move has been made in a period.

Robert Pauli: No, Total Average Timing is the one that covers Fischer! Under Steady Average any move beyond the N-th in the same period earns nothing. Under Total Average, however, you're already working towards your next extra period.

Tderz: Phew ... I might have my slow days - or the definition is not yet foolproof?
I want to understand you - but do not succeed.

1

Steady Average Timing is the time system where

  • one gets an initial period of time,
  • time used for each move is deducted,
  • and an extra period of time is added after exactly N moves were made in a period.

Total Average Timing is the time system where

  • one gets an initial period of time,
  • time used for each move is deducted,
  • and an extra period of time is added after each N-th move.

Question/wondering: for N=1, how can this one move not be made in a period? Hence, my conclusion is until here: for N=1, the steady and total average timing have the same concept (thus both cover Fischer).

2

Could you explain your drawings? And, why, in the example has the player not lost after #step 8a ? (or got 3 minutes). Rather, s/he seems to have played 4 stones (3, 2, 1, 0 at 7 and 0 at 8a). Is the example flawed or am I simply not getting it?

Mutatis mutandis the player should have got his new 3 stones + 3 minutes at 4a, not at 4b .... sorry the penny fell just now ...

Robert Pauli: It's subtle.

  1. Total Average with N = 1 is Fischer, right, Steady Average with N = 1 not. Why? Because after you've done your move the unused time isn't added to the next period. However, it's neither spilled. You can use it for extra moves, "between" the periods.
    • Sorry, the drawings don't reflect the fact that further moves beyond N are treated differently. For instance, if you make 2N moves in one period, Total Average grants you two further periods, whereas Steady Average still only one.
    • Each step sees you at turn. Steps 4 - 7 therefore play four stones, right. You didn't lose in 8a because your charge of stones already was down to zero: condition met, but earned period still owed, and it stays owed under Steady Average until the period is done (4b, 8b).

xela: No, it still doesn't make sense to me. I think that the example below doesn't match the definition: it looks like there are four stones played in the second time period, and four is definitely not "exactly N" if N is three. It seems to me that the definition is intended to mean "...an extra period of time is added when each time period runs out, provided that at least N moves have been made in that period; otherwise the player loses on time."

Alex: I think I understand these rules, but they're phrased in possibly the most confusing way. Surely a simpler way to phrase it is:

"Time is broken down into a series of X-minute periods. During each of those periods, you must make at least N moves or lose the game. Moves beyond N within a given period are made at the player's discretion, but they do not count towards the moves required for the next period, nor does the next period begin until the full time for the current period elapses."

The whole thing about "adding" periods just serves to confuse the issue, in my opinion.


Example

3 moves ("stones") in 3 minutes.

  #    Time   Stones    Used
  --------------------------
  1     3:00    3       0:40
  2     2:20    2       1:50
  3     0:30    1       0:29
  4a    0:01    0       0:01
  4b    3:00    3       1:10
  5     1:50    2       1:45
  6     0:05    1       0:03
  7     0:02    0       0:01
  8a    0:01    0       0:01
  8b    3:00    3       2:10
  9     0:50    2       0:50
 10     0:00    1       lost

Steady Average Timing last edited by 78.43.63.80 on May 4, 2010 - 18:12
RecentChanges · StartingPoints · About
Edit page ·Search · Related · Page info · Latest diff
[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]
RecentChanges
StartingPoints
About
RandomPage
Search position
Page history
Latest page diff
Partner sites:
Go Teaching Ladder
Goproblems.com
Login / Prefs
Tools
Sensei's Library