1. I'm new to this site, can I get some tips on how to use it?

2. I just won a game, but my rating and stats don't reflect the win. Why?

3. I just won a game, but my rating went down. Why?

4. It seems extra time was added to a game and my opponent hasn't moved yet. Why?

5. I'd like to take back a move I just made, is it possible?

6. I'm unable to make any moves in any of my games, what do I do?

7. I would like to change my user name, how can I do it?

8. How do I reinstate a timed-out game?

9. How do I update my e-mail address?

10. How do I change my password?

11. How do I edit the personal information on my rating/stats page?

12. How do I stop receiving e-mail notifications?

13. I have trouble accessing the site, please help?

14. How many games can I play simultaneously?

15. My opponent postponed a game, what can I do about it?

16. I'm unable to start new games because there are other users listed as playing from the same computer. What can I do?

17. There's a problem with one (or more) of the pages, please help?

18. I would like to close my account and start a new one, how can I do it?

19. One of the pages on your website appears to be wrong or displays incorrect information, can you help?

20. What is Fischer/incremental time control and how does it work?

21. What is considered cheating? How to report cheaters?

22. Is it possible to play faster games, i.e. 1 day per move?

23. Which rating is used when calculating the rating adjustment after the game is ended?

24. I received a warning that my e-mail address is invalid. Why?

25. One of my opponents is refusing to resign a lost game, what can be done about it?

26. One of my opponents is stalling a lost game, what can be done about it?

27. I'm seeing excessive and/or inappropriate/adult ads on your site, why?

28. I'm unable to use "wait for your turn", "analyze the board" and "make a note" features of your site, why?

29. How does GameKnot's rating system work?

30. I am a premium subscriber, but I'm still seeing ads on GameKnot, why?

31. My anti-virus software is detecting viruses on your site. Why?

32. One of my games timed out, even though I thought I still had time. Can it be reinstated?

33. I lost several games by time out due to circumstances beyond my control. Can my old rating be restored?

34. One of the games was about to time out, but it just disappeared from the active games list, why?

35. Your website seems to be very slow and it takes a long time for any of the pages to load. Please help?

36. The online status ("green dot") seems to never be on for my own user name, why?

37. What is a "stalemate"?

38. When viewing a game, how can I tell who is playing white and who is playing black?

39. What is a "threefold repetition" rule?

40. I'm advancing to the second round in a tournament even though I didn't have the top score in my group, why?

41. I'm playing a game in which the opponent made an impossible move, why?

42. What is an automatic emergency postponement?

43. No new games are being started for me in a mini-tournament, why?

44. Does GameKnot support the 50-move draw rule?

45. My question was not answered here, how do I contact GameKnot?

^top^ Q1: I'm new to this site, can I get some tips on how to use it?

A: Absolutely, it's right here.

^top^ Q2: I just won a game, but my rating and stats don't reflect the win. Why?

A: If a rated game ends with less than 3 moves, it will not be counted as a win. The reason is, it's hardly possible to show that someone was winning after only two moves. All lost games are always counted as losses for the timed out player regardless of how many moves were made, unless the game was unrated. Also, please note: in chess, moves are counted in pairs -- i.e. 3 moves means both players made 3 moves each. More about the rating system.

^top^ Q3: I just won a game, but my rating went down. Why?

A: Because of the way the GameKnot's rating system works, it is possible, but only if you haven't finished your first 20 rated games. During your first 20 games on GameKnot, we try to quickly approximate your rating based on the ratings of your opponents and how you fair against them (so if you are a strong player, it doesn't take several years to reach your true rating). To avoid losing rating points when you win during the first 20 games, try to avoid playing against opponents rated more than 200 points below your expected rating. More about GameKnot's rating system.

^top^ Q4: It seems extra time was added to a game and my opponent hasn't moved yet. Why?

A: 24 hours are automatically added to all non-postponed games (but not to exceed the original time control) every Saturday between 5-6pm local GK time (PST) to prevent timeouts over the weekend for people who play from work and don't have computers at home. It is designed to ensure that if you make your move on Friday, you should have until the same time on Monday to make your next move. Please note that it is not guaranteed and should only be used as a safety net. Also, extra time is added to all games during major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years) or disasters affecting the majority of