Time Control Preferences

You may always play your games under the default Snail Bucket time control: 45 45. Or, you may order five different time controls by preference: 120 30, 90 30, 45 45, 75 0, 50 10. If your opponent's preference matches yours, that time control will be selected for your game.

How to set preferred time controls

  • Create your Snail Bucket account.
  • Untick the checkbox that defaults 45 45.

  • Sort the time controls that you like. Use your mouse to drag and drop them up and down.
  • Drag any time control you do not want to play (except 45 45) to the right.

You may indefinitely drag elements up and down, left and right until you are satisfied with the result.

How to change preferred time controls

  • Log in.
  • Click "Profile" in the upper right hand corner.
  • Adjust your preferred time controls as described above.
  • Click "Submit".

This will not take effect for a round that has already started.

How do preferred time controls work?

Example 1
Either player has elected to only play 45 45.


Result
The game will be played with a 45 45 time control.

Example 2
Both players have chosen the same time control as their first pick.


Result
The game will be played with that time control.

Example 3
Either player has a first preference that is the other player's second preference.


Result
The game will be played with that time control.

Example 4
Both players have a first preference that is the other player's second preference.


Result
The game will be played with the shorter time control.

Example 5
The players' first and second preferences are incompatible.


Result
The game will be played with their first compatible preference. If preferences have equal priority, the game will be played with the shorter time control.


The mathematicians among you may want to study Bodia's Matching time controls algorithm.