You obviously didn't understand what lag is. Read the explanations again.
Why did the clock times suddenly change? The clocks seem broken!
Don't worry - the clocks are not broken. This jumping is caused either by Internet lag,
or because of bonus time. Here is how lag works on chess.com:
You make a move, the move gets sent to our server, & then your opponent's computer.
We adjust the clocks dynamically so that neither player is "charged" for communication
time - but rather, only for the time actually spent thinking.
A very extreme example:
Imagine it takes 5 seconds for the move to hit our server, then another 5 seconds for
the move to hit your opponent's computer from there. Your opponent will not see
this move until 10 seconds after you make it, but your opponents clock will usually
start counting down on your screen when the move hits our server. Then, let's say
your opponent thinks for a total of 10 seconds. After this, it takes another 5 seconds
for the move to be transmitted to our servers, and another 5 seconds for the move
to now go to your computer.
So, you have been waiting for this move for roughly 30 seconds (10 seconds total travel
time, 10 seconds thinking time, and another 10 seconds total travel time), and your
opponents clock has been counting down for roughly 25 seconds. But since your
opponent only spent 10 seconds thinking, that's all the time they get charged for.
So, when their move finally hits your computer, their clock display re adjusts for the 15
extra seconds that your opponent wasn't actually thinking. Meanwhile, your clock
display on your end will only count down while you are thinking. There is no need for
correction on your end (and remember, your clock is adjusting
similarly on your opponent's screen).
Fortunately, in reality, travel times are usually less than what is described above. (In fact,
we only allow members to play if their detected lag is two seconds or less.) However, the
travel times are not consistent, so adjustments must be made dynamically. There is no way
around it: all real-time chess servers have to deal with lag, though other sites are a bit
less transparent about it.
Keywords: clocks, skip, clock, jumping, time, cheat, delay, bonus
Some people have slow connections. Chess.com tries to adjust the games fairly for this. YLMV.
hi, I posted a comment the other day, about somes games I played on my tablet, in which I noticed irregularities in the way the clock kept time. It was counting down while I thought, and when I made my move, the clock additionly subtracted 10,15, sometimes 20 odd seconds from me, and seemed to ADD THAT TIME to my opponent. ireceived a response which sent me to an explanation of lag time, but that dosen't address the issue. Theoretically, I get 10 full minutes of time to think and physically make a move. As should my opponent. But I was getting less than the 10 mins., and he was getting more. Today I played a guy who was beating me positionally, but was really out of time. Yet he made numerous moves WITH THE CLOCK TAKING NO TIME OFF, (at least six moves, - zero time) which ought to not be possible. What gives? The web sight I was sent to after my first query explained lag, but not what is happening to me.