diff --git a/config.yaml b/config.yaml
index ff50cc4..83d6af6 100644
--- a/config.yaml
+++ b/config.yaml
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ openrouter:
 strategies:
   explorationRate: 0.2  # 20% of the time try a random strategy instead of the best
   minSamples: 5         # Min messages sent before trusting a strategy's response rate
+  responseWindowHours: 12  # Age unanswered sends before including them in strategy performance
   variants:
     - id: compliment_direct
       weight: 1
@@ -201,6 +202,7 @@ strategies:
 chatStrategies:
   explorationRate: 0.2
   minSamples: 5
+  responseWindowHours: 12
   variants:
     - id: chat_direct
       weight: 1
diff --git a/src/config/index.ts b/src/config/index.ts
index 844e3d0..cc395c8 100644
--- a/src/config/index.ts
+++ b/src/config/index.ts
@@ -131,23 +131,23 @@ export const ConfigSchema = z.object({
   strategies: z.object({
     explorationRate: z.number().min(0).max(1).default(0.2),
     minSamples: z.number().int().positive().transform((value) => Math.max(30, value)).default(30),
-    responseWindowHours: z.number().positive().default(48),
+    responseWindowHours: z.number().positive().default(12),
     variants: z.array(z.object({
       id: z.string(),
       weight: z.number().default(1),
       promptOverride: z.string(),
     })).default([]),
-  }).default({ explorationRate: 0.2, minSamples: 30, responseWindowHours: 48, variants: [] }),
+  }).default({ explorationRate: 0.2, minSamples: 30, responseWindowHours: 12, variants: [] }),
   chatStrategies: z.object({
     explorationRate: z.number().min(0).max(1).default(0.2),
     minSamples: z.number().int().positive().transform((value) => Math.max(30, value)).default(30),
-    responseWindowHours: z.number().positive().default(48),
+    responseWindowHours: z.number().positive().default(12),
     variants: z.array(z.object({
       id: z.string(),
       weight: z.number().default(1),
       promptOverride: z.string(),
     })).default([]),
-  }).default({ explorationRate: 0.2, minSamples: 30, responseWindowHours: 48, variants: [] }),
+  }).default({ explorationRate: 0.2, minSamples: 30, responseWindowHours: 12, variants: [] }),
   web: z.object({
     enabled: z.boolean().default(true),
     port: z.number().default(3000),
diff --git a/tests/config.test.ts b/tests/config.test.ts
index 02fc847..103a88c 100644
--- a/tests/config.test.ts
+++ b/tests/config.test.ts
@@ -228,8 +228,9 @@ describe('ConfigSchema', () => {
       if (result.success) {
         expect(result.data.strategies.explorationRate).toBe(0.2);
         expect(result.data.strategies.minSamples).toBe(30);
-        expect(result.data.strategies.responseWindowHours).toBe(48);
+        expect(result.data.strategies.responseWindowHours).toBe(12);
         expect(result.data.strategies.variants).toEqual([]);
+        expect(result.data.chatStrategies.responseWindowHours).toBe(12);
       }
     });