Playing Rules: Time of Reflection

The time of reflection is 20 days per player for 10 moves; the postal transmission time shall not be counted. The time of reflection for each move is the difference in days between the date on which the opponent’s latest move was delivered and the postmark of the reply. A reply posted on the same day as received counts as no time of reflection. Time of reflection saved shall be credited; ie the time-limit is cumulative for the whole game. The time of reflection begins on the starting date of the tournament given in the tournament lists. Players who get their tournament list before the starting date may start play; in that case time of reflection will not be counted until the starting date.
If a player wishes to take more than 12 days for 1 move, he must notify his opponent before the 12th day by recorded delivery. Should he not do this, then his time of reflection will be doubled from the 13th day.
Every player is required to communicate to his opponent the following with his move:
a) Confirmation of his opponent’s post mark date,
b) The date of receipt of his opponent’s last move,
c) The date he sent his move (the probable postal date; only the actual post mark date is valid),
d) The time of reflection used according to this.
A move transmission is incomplete without these details. The opponent can assume the time of reflection in that case according to his own judgement basing himself on the average postal transmission time. However, he shall notify his opponent of this without delay. It is recommended, in addition to one’s own time of reflection for each move, to add the total time of reflection used by both oneself and one’s opponent.
Examples: sent 5-1 5-1 5-1
received 10-1 10-1 10-1
sent 10-1 11-1 12-1
time 0 (18/20) 1 (18/21) 2 (18/22)
Should a player receive no answer from his opponent after 14 days plus postal transmission time, or at the beginning of the tournament not receive a first move, he must remind him by recorded delivery, in which case his latest move must be repeated or, in the latter case, ask for the despatch of the first move. If another 14 days plus postal transmission time after this reminder pass without answer, the tournament secretary is to be informed. A move repetition sent by recorded delivery must be answered by recorded delivery. An answer which has not been sent by recorded delivery is valid only if the recipient acknowledges its arrival.
The time of reflection is exceeded when more than 20 days are used for 10 or less moves; 40 days for 20 or less moves; 60 days for 30 or less moves, etc. Exceeding the time limit can neither be prevented nor caused by conditional moves. The time of reflection is added at the sender’s first move in a sequence of conditional moves and at the recipient’s answering move to the last conditional move accepted.
Claims for exceeding the time limit must be made within 7 days, or at the latest on receiving the 10th, 20th, 30th, etc move. The claim is to be sent to the tournament secretary, indicating the time used; at the same time, the opponent must be informed by recorded delivery. To his claim shall be attached the receipt for the recorded delivery to the opponent.
Whosoever fails to claim according to paragraph 17, shall be entitled to claim only at the next time control.
If a first claim for exceeding the time limit is upheld, then the player who has exceeded the time limit shall be deemed to have lost the game. (This single rule replaces ICCF rules 19-21).
Protests against a claim of exceeding the time limit must be made by recorded delivery to the tournament secretary within 2 weeks after receiving the opponent’s advice. Whosoever does not avail himself of this right within this time limit, is deemed to have conceded the claim.
Should a player not answer questions from the tournament secretary regarding the orderly progress of the game, the latter shall be entitled to declare the game forfeited for the player at fault.
The tournament secretary is entitled to require the transmission of moves for the next 5 moves by recorded delivery, if he thinks this is necessary for the orderly progress of the tournament. Players who do not follow such a requirement lose the right to claim.
Every player must notify the tournament secretary and his opponents of any change of address. Should this not be done, then the time lost is charged against the guilty player.
When a player repeatedly ignores the Tournament Rules despite repeated warnings from the tournament secretary, the tournament secretary may decide as follows according to the seriousness of the rule infringement:
a) 5 days additional reflection time,
b) 10 days additional reflection time,
c) recording an exceeding of the time limit.
In especially serious cases, the tournament secretary may, in individual tournaments expel the player from the tournament, and in team tournaments, demand an exchange of players.

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Playing Rules: Time of Reflection