Stalling (gaming)
|
|
Stalling, in a timed game, refers to obstructing the flow of play while in the lead, in the hopes of maintaining it.
Stalling cannot be pursued in games without a time limit, such as baseball or tournament poker, unless to try the endurance of one's opponents. However, it can be pursued in games with defined end-times. For example, a leading team in soccer or football has a strategic interest in slowing the flow of a game-- the team is therefore more likely to maintain the lead.
In mental games, the distinction between legitimate deliberation and stalling is difficult to define.
Different games deal with the possibility of stalling in different ways. Some allow some forms of stalling, whereas others penalize it.