BIG BAD WOLF: I like that idea, i put that in my Brainking DB post. There has to be a time limit somewhere before they are removed or retired. I could not possibly challenge on all the Stairs i am in, although i do try to keep up.
I think that Brainking should still run a script once a week to see what ones you are open for a challenge on. Sometimes i finish a game & go to the Stair in question and there is no one to challenge, but who is to say 2 hours later there wont be ?
To save having to check all the time we could have a message sent to us listing what Stairs we can make/except a challenge on.

Vikings: I understand what you are saying, in that case they would have to be an exception to the rule, but they would still be in-active.
There has to be some sort of rule set i think. Maybe they have to challenge if someone is one step below them & available.
Something would have to be there though to check they still are an active player on Brainking.
Until Fencer gives us his views or what he intends to do with the Stairs(if anything) all we can do is come up with ideas lol

Vikings: I did put on the Brainking DB earlier that the script could also check if a person does not have anyone to challenge, then it would not effect them, hence if you are at the top, you stay there, but when a person becomes available you should have to challenge someone after a certain time.

Vikings: Brainking should be able to check each player/step to see if there are people for them to play. Maybe an automated message could be sent to them. If they do not play anyone after a certain time of being available then, either removed from the stairs or dropped a place. It could all be done automatically after Fencer writes the code

King Reza: I will join and give you a game King I am not the best Chess player though, just enjoy trying to win a game, especially different versions.

I had the same problem 3 times on Backgammon stairs lately, actually starting games just to watch them time out as they are not here anymore. I think inactive players(say 2 weeks) should be removed, or get automatically set to leaving the stairs (then they could get an Automated warning sent to there message box).