I don't want to attack anyone or cause a flame war but I feel I must do this. I recently finished a 2 game Line4 match with an unnamed player that started on June 19. The first game, a win for me, was completed June 19. The second game lasted until August 24, ending in a timeout by the other player. The game had a 5 day limit and only lasted 10 moves yet it took over 2 months. I make my moves when I get them and always move within 24 hours of my opponent's move. The reason this game lasted so long is vacation. Other player used many vacation days, at least 15, and I ask is it right that players who pay more can stall losses to keep high ratings and rankings with their 30! vacation days? Nothing against the other player as she has a lot of games at a time and she's not the only one who does this. Also, there's a bug in the game history in the profiles. It is showing the date of the first game's completion not the match completion.

Will there be the 2nd Official BrainKing.com Tournament anytime soon?

The provisional formula is very simple. It is +400 to your opponent's rating if you win. -400 if you lose and +0 if you tie then that number is added to (your rating times the number of games you had played). That number is then divided by your new number of games played.

why is game time still suspended? I thought Liquid was back. Downtime is much better.

Well, its not in the formula, but FIDE marks players like that to keep their rating list up-to-date. They don't recalculate the rating or anything just remove it from their Top 100 List. Bobby Fischer still has a 2700+ rating, he just isn't shown on the list.

That isn't in the Elo system which is what the USCF uses, which is what we use. A ratings system that takes into account dates is Glicko and Glicko2.

The true Elo system's provisional system (25 games) is +400 on your opponent rating for a win, -400 on your opponent rating for a loss, then that is added to (your provisional rating times the number of games you've played). Then divided by your new total of games. This site has a rating catch that prevents you from gaining points with losses and losing points with wins. Therefore, it is not a true Elo rating system. For a tie you just take your opponent's rating no adjustments made and add it in.

Why restrict seeing members who are online or friends or enemies? Those make no sense whatsoever. I, along with many others I know, would probably buy a membership here if we could a decent server or reliability. I have DSL and I can get into everyother site but at times like 4-8pm 6-8am its impossible to get in. Probably 1/10 tries in those time frames. It either brings up server maxed out or just nothing and it keeps trying to load.

How do I set vacation days?

And that advantage in Line4 is not near the advantage White has over Black in Spider Line

I don't believe its a fraud, when people invite you to Line4 as White (the inferior color) do you accept just because they are a few points below you. No, you don't