I recently noticed the definition in the rule book of “Time Pressure”. It considers time pressure to be when either has less than 5 minutes, unless there is a 30 second delay or increment in use. From personal experience as a player I would argue with this. As a TD I would like to know what the definition of “Time Pressure” is when a 30 second increment is in use, and please don’t insult anyone’s intelligence by suggesting that there is never “Time Pressure” when a 30 second increment is in use.
My experience as a player includes a tournament game with 30 second increment where I have 6 minutes to my opponent’s 2 minutes, and I was feeling a little pressed. Part of why I felt pressed was the time, but mostly due to a losing position. I felt my opponent had a choice of 3 moves. One of the moves if made was good, but not extremely forcing. a second move was so strong that if it had been played I would have resigned. The third move, which is what was made, resulted in check mate in 2 for me! In another game a few years later my opponent after their move had 31 seconds on the clock, so they almost flagged. There should be no question that such a situation definitely puts pressure on a player.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this term used in the context of when you are required to keep score? If so, the semantic concept of “time pressure” isn’t the point. The rules declare that if you have 5 minutes on the clock or 30 second increment, you have enough time to keep score. It doesn’t care how much pressure you might be feeling.
Either way, my comment applies. The rule sets an objective standard on when actions may or may not occur, like the two minute warning in the NFL or the last two minute rule changes in the NBA. The subjective concept of “time pressure” is irrelevant.
Nobody, not even Fischer, has ever claimed that increment mode would keep players from losing on time. But it does improve the chances that the results of the game will depend more upon the moves made than on time management skills.