FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

The very latest International round up of English news.
Post Reply

User avatar
Matt Mackenzie
Posts: 6434
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 pm
Location: Millom, Cumbria

Re: FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Fri Nov 13, 2026 3:48 pm

Predictable, but still not good.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Alex Holowczak
Posts: 9362
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 5:18 pm
Location: Oldbury, Worcestershire
Contact:

Re: FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

Post by Alex Holowczak » Fri Nov 13, 2026 6:05 pm

Federations have received a survey to fill in, which is currently being discussed and completed. I will certainly be reading people's thoughts here before making my contributions, so feel free to make them. :)

Roger de Coverly
Posts: 22716
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm

Re: FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

Post by Roger de Coverly » Fri Nov 13, 2026 6:28 pm

Alex Holowczak wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 13, 2026 6:05 pm
I will certainly be reading people's thoughts here before making my contributions, so feel free to make them. :)
If the ECF wants tournaments with three rounds in a day to be unconditionally rated, it needs to ask for the two games a day restriction to be removed for tournaments where Norm chances don't arise.
Does the USCF still have tournaments with three rounds in a single day? There certainly used to because that's where Stewart Reuben and perhaps others got the idea from.

User avatar
IM Jack Rudd
Posts: 5193
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:13 am
Location: Bideford
Contact:

Re: FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

Post by IM Jack Rudd » Fri Nov 13, 2026 6:29 pm

It's authorized for norms, but the schedules that would make it sensible are not. Yay, joined-up thinking.

Paul McKeown
Posts: 3829
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:01 pm
Location: Hayes (Middx)

Re: FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

Post by Paul McKeown » Fri Nov 13, 2026 7:28 pm

I believe I once came across a rather satirical description in German of an attempt to speed up chess in the early 20th century as "Dampfschach" - steam-driven chess. I can't remember who it was that used this word, but I am sure that they would approve of my condemnation of this unnecessary cheapening of the rating and title system using the same term.
International Arbiter, FIDE Instructor
Richmond Junior Chess Club
Fulham Junior Chess Club
ECF Games Played Abroad Administrator

Tim Spanton
Posts: 1412
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 11:35 am
Contact:

Re: FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

Post by Tim Spanton » Fri Nov 13, 2026 7:48 pm

60m with a 30s increment seems OK to me, although I prefer 90+30

User avatar
Matt Mackenzie
Posts: 6434
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 pm
Location: Millom, Cumbria

Re: FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Fri Nov 13, 2026 7:49 pm

There used to be quite a few English weekend congresses with a three round day (usually Saturday) but I think that has almost died out now.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Alex Holowczak
Posts: 9362
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 5:18 pm
Location: Oldbury, Worcestershire
Contact:

Re: FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

Post by Alex Holowczak » Fri Nov 13, 2026 8:02 pm

Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 13, 2026 7:49 pm
There used to be quite a few English weekend congresses with a three round day (usually Saturday) but I think that has almost died out now.
They are still going in places. Adam Raoof organises them with time limits of 60+30 in London. I organise some in Warwickshire, with a time limit of 80+10.

Roger de Coverly
Posts: 22716
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm

Re: FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

Post by Roger de Coverly » Fri Nov 13, 2026 8:21 pm

Alex Holowczak wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 13, 2026 8:02 pm
They are still going in places. Adam Raoof organises them with time limits of 60+30 in London. I organise some in Warwickshire, with a time limit of 80+10.
They are popular where a Friday evening round would be difficult. Witney, Kidlington and St Albans are examples where the move rate is 90 minutes + 15 seconds.
Derbyshire and the Somerset New Year are other examples. Essentially it's any 5 round tournament over two days.

User avatar
Joey Stewart
Posts: 2183
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2007 2:35 pm
Location: All Of Them
Contact:

Re: FIDE authorising use of 45/30 time control for norms

Post by Joey Stewart » Fri Nov 13, 2026 8:40 pm

I seen to remember such 3 game a day congresses being heavily disrupted by certain players abusing the 30 seconds increment to drag especially long endgames on for an unnaturally extended duration
Any opinions expressed will not be held to account.

Post Reply