Tournament Directors are not always masters of the game and asking them to adjudicate many endgame positions is like asking them to hit as many home runs as Mark Maguire. One option available to a director in an insufficient losing chances claim is to place a time delay clock on the board, with the claimant having 1/2 his/her remaining time up to 1 minute (read maximum - 1 minute) with a 5 second delay and the opponent having all his/her time plus the delay. Assuming the game is really a draw, with a 5 second delay, it can be proven on the board.

Recently, there has been some controversy about the nature of the insufficient losing chances claim - is it good for only one move or is it a standing offer of a draw where a draw is the best result the claimant can get, even if the opponent hangs pieces or gets mated. The USCF website and digital clock pamphlet had this interpretation and it was confusing to both player and TD. Here is an example of the confusion - player A makes an insufficient losing chances claim and during the continuation of the game, player B either gets mated or loses material (when A would normally win) or Player A's flag falls - the recent interpretation of standing draw offer meant that Player A could not win the game, that a draw was the best result because of the claim and that the TD could still call the game a draw after the flags had fallen.There is a brand new USCF Rules Committee decision has been made and this is the decision: (4/99)

All TDs and players must be aware of the fact that the "delay" or "incremental" time allotment that can be set into the Bronstein or Fischer time controls when in the manual mode can be set differently for each of the two players. It is possible, for instance, to have white getting 5 seconds and black only 3 seconds if programming is done carelessly.

One of the problems with digital clocks is how to set them! Few TDs know how to set every brand of digital clock and more than a few players do not know how to set their own clock!! Know your own equipment - why buy new equipment and then ask a TD to set it for you? Below are some explanations for each clock, recently sent to me by NTD Carol Jarecki, chair of the USCF Rules Committee....

SETTING DIGITAL CLOCKS

The following guidelines and remarks are not meant as recommendations or criticisms of any of the clocks described. They are being presented as assistance for TDs who are faced with the challenge of having to adjust various digital clocks during tournaments, and as a few helpful tips on some possible idiosyncrasies.

by Carol Jarecki, NTD

Chronos

In what follows we are interested in tournament chess only. Further, we shall assume that there are either one, two, or three time controls, that the final control is sudden death, and that there is to be a 5-second delay. Modes not addressing these assumptions will be omitted from the discussion.

The switchless models are described first.

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SWITCHLESS MODELS:

The switchless models all operate the same way, but the earlier versions omitted some of the modes.

There are four ways to turn on the clock. Only two are of interest here: (1) To access all the modes, or to program a user mode, hold down both play buttons while pressing the center red button. (2) To access a previously programmed user mode, do not hold down the play buttons. Simply short-press the center button one to four times, for user modes 1 through 4 respectively. "Short-press" means press for less than 1 second.

Once the clock has been turned on using method (1), you may cycle through all the modes by short-pressing the center button repeatedly until you see the mode you want. If you accidentaly go too far, you can go backward by long-pressing the center button. "Long-press" means press for at least 1 second, until it beeps.

Two modes are displayed at a time, one on each side of the clock. To select one, press the play button on that side. Then, adjust the settings, as described later. In most modes with two or three time controls, the delay may be set differently for each control. This comes in handy if the director strays from standard practice by specifying a delay only in the final control.

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AVAILABLE MODES ON THE SWITCHLESS MODELS:

The modes of greatest interest to tournament players are listed below. The earliest switchless models omitted some of these modes.

CH-A1: For a single time-control of up to 99 minutes. The delay is always displayed as a digit, even when it reaches 0. On the side that is not running, the full 5-second delay is displayed.

CH-A2: Same as CH-A1, but for two time-controls of up to 99 minutes each.

CH-A3: Same as CH-A1, but for three time-controls of up to 99 minutes each.

CH-A7: Essentially identical to AN-2, below.

CH-A8: Essentially identical to AN-3, below.

GO-A1: Good for a two-control tournament of any length, in which the delay is to be applied to the second control only.

AN-1: Good for a single time-control of any length. The delay is displayed as a digit, but only on the side that is running, and only until it reaches 0. This leaves room, the rest of the time, for a full 5-digit display of hours, minutes, and seconds.

AN-2: Same as AN-1, but for two time-controls.

AN-3: Same as AN-1, but for three time-controls.

DL-SD1: Good for a single time-control of any length. The delay is displayed as a flashing hyphen, never as a digit.

DL-SD2: Same as DL-SD1, but for two time-controls.

DL-SD3: Same as DL-SD1, but for three time-controls.

DL-C1: A move-counter mode for two time-controls of any length. The delay is displayed as a flashing hyphen. When the sudden-death control is reached, the move counter is off, making room for a full 5-digit display.

DL-C2: Same as DL-C1, but for three time-controls.

DL-C1A: Same as DL-C1, but displays the move counter only on the side that is not running. This sometimes makes room for a full 5-digit display, but can be confusing.

DL-C2A: Same as DL-C1A, but for three time-controls.

DL-C1B: Same as DL-C1, but the move counter remains on even during the sudden-death control.

DL-C2B: Same as DL-C1B, but for three time-controls.

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SETTING THE TIMES ON THE SWITCHLESS MODELS:

Once the desired mode has been selected and the digits are displayed, long-press the center button to adjust the settings. One digit, or a pair of digits, will begin to flash. To adjust the flashing digit(s), press the play button(s) repeatedly until the digit has the desired value. Then short-press the center button to go on to the next digit. All the settings (main time, delay time, and/or move counter) for each time control will be displayed in turn.

Finally, a list of options will be displayed. Most are either 1 (on) or 0 (off):

BEEP: For the sake of others in the tournament hall, turn this option off (zero). You don't want the clock beeping on every move.

LED: Turn this option to 1 so that the LEDs will light up to show who is on move.

BEEP AT END, BEEP AT TC: Although it is legal for the clock to beep at time control, some players and directors may feel uncomfortable. Best to keep these options off (zero).

HALT AT END: This option stops both clocks when either player oversteps, making it impossible for both "flags" to fall and possible to see which player ran out of time first.

COPY TO ##: Selecting 0 here will not save your settings. They will be lost when you turn the clock off. Selecting a number 1-4 will save your settings in user modes 1-4, respectively, which are easy to access. Selecting 5-12 will save your settings in user modes more difficult to access.

Once all the times and options have been set, long-press the center button to prepare the clock for use.

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OPERATING THE SWITCHLESS MODEL:

To begin the game, press either play button.

To stop the clock or pause the game, press the center button once.

If it is necessary to adjust either the clock times or the move count during the game, first stop the clock, then long-press the center button once. The settings may be then be adjusted in the same manner as before the game.

To turn the clock off, hold the center button down while pressing either play button five times.

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THE LAST SWITCH MODEL:

On the last model manufactured with a switch on the bottom, there are eight ways to turn on the clock, only two of which are of interest here: (1) To access all the modes, or to program a user mode, hold down the center red button while turning the clock on using the bottom switch. (2) To access a previously programmed user mode, hold down both play buttons while turning the clock on using the bottom switch. User modes 1 and 2 will be displayed; to display user modes 3 and 4, short-press the center button. When the desired mode is displayed, select it using one of the play buttons.

Except for the above, the switch model behaves in a manner similar to the switchless models. But the available modes are different. On the switch model, the delay must be set the same for all time controls, except for mode GO-A2, which has a delay only during the second control.

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AVAILABLE MODES ON THE SWITCH MODEL:

The modes of greatest interest on the switch model are listed below.

CH-A2: Equivalent to CH-A1 on the switchless models.

CH-A3: Good for a single time-control of any length. The delay is always displayed as a pair of digits, even when it reaches 0. The main time is displayed as hours and minutes until under 10 minutes, then as minutes and seconds.

GO-A2: Equivalent to GO-A1 on the switchless models.

DL-1: Equivalent to DL-SD1 on the switchless models.

DL-2A: Equivalent to DL-SD2 on the switchless models.

DL-2B: Same as DL-2A, but the delay is displayed as a digit when the main time is under 1 hour in either control. Many owners seem unaware of this advantage. Even if there is only one time control, mode DL-2B can be used with the second control set to 0:00:00.

DL-C2A: Equivalent to DL-C1B on the switchless models.

DL-C2B: Equivalent to DL-C1 on the switchless models.

DL-C3A: Equivalent to DL-C2B on the switchless models.

DL-C3B: Equivalent to DL-C2 on the switchless models.

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OTHER DIFFERENCES WITH THE SWITCH MODEL:

There is no HALT AT END option on the switch model.

To adjust either the clock times or the move count during the game, first stop the clock, then long-press the center button three times.

To turn the clock off, simply use the switch on the bottom of the clock.

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ADVICE TO CHRONOS OWNERS:

Keep both the white cardboard box and the black cloth bag. Put the clock in the box, and the box in the bag. It's a tight fit when the bag is new, but it will loosen up in time. Using the box helps prevent accidentally starting the clock by pressing the center button through the bag.

Don't try to store settings for several tournament formats in several user modes. You'll forget which is which, and you'll forget how to program your clock. Re-program before each tournament, and store the results in one or more of the user modes 1-4, which are the easiest to access. You may want to store one mode that counts moves and one that doesn't. If you're a blitz player, you may also want to store mode CH-F2, which is preferable to CH-F1 because of the reduced possibility of an accidental reset.

If you're a tournament director, use two of the user modes 1-4 to store a couple of "TD modes". I recommend CH-A1 (CH-A2 on the switch model) with the delay set to 5 seconds and the main time set to 00:00. Then you can swing into action quickly with your delay clock, setting the minutes and seconds as appropriate, in response to claims of insufficient losing chances.

The other "TD mode" should be DL-C1B (DL-C2A on the switch model) with the delay set to 5 seconds, all move counters set to 00, and all times set to 0:00:00. This is useful for claims of insufficient losing chances when there is also a likelihood of an eventual 50-move claim. Of course, the players cannot claim based on the counter alone, but the director's personal observation can be enhanced greatly.

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TO COUNT MOVES OR NOT TO COUNT MOVES?

Should the clock be set to count moves, or should this be left to the players? There are a number of good arguments both for and against the use of the move counter.

If the move counter is not used, the display is simpler. In many modes, all five digits (hours, minutes, seconds) can be displayed simultaneously. In addition, time forfeit claims must usually be based on players' scoresheets rather than on the move counter.

An advantage of the move counter is that the clock adds another hour when move 40 (for example) is reached. Without the counter, the hour will be added only when all the time is used up from the first control. One player may get his hour added 10 or 20 moves before his opponent. If the delay is used only during the final control, the slowpoke will be awarded the delay many moves ahead of his opponent.

On the other hand, errors are more likely, and more serious, with the move counter. If a player forgets to press his clock, or an illegal move is made and corrected, or the wrong clock is started at the beginning of the game, the count can be off on one or both sides. The player furnishing the clock must be careful to correct move-count errors as they occur, lest there be big trouble at the control.

The move counter can be useful even if there is only one control. To use the move counter with just one control, use one of the two-control modes, but set the initial move count to 00 in both controls, and the time to 0:00:00 in the second control.

Don't try this, however, with some of the non-counting modes. For some reason modes CH-A7, CH-A8, AN-2, and AN-3 will interpret a control of 0:00:00 as ten hours instead of zero. You don't want to be up all night, do you?

The latest model has no on-off switch underneath. It is turned on, to the menu selection, by pressing the center button and both play buttons simultaneously. It is turned off by pressing the center button and the left play button five times.

FIDE
Digital Game Timer

Features of the new model "DGT XL": Larger display, move counter option, option for end-of-time-control buzzer, more pre-selects including #16 which is 1 hr. & 55 min. with 5 seconds Bronstein-type "delay". There are also 5 personal manual setting possibilities of maximum 5 periods with a free mix of timing systems.

Notes:

In the final 20 minutes this clock displays minutes and seconds rather than hours and minutes.

Rarely this clock may skip down to 00 if hit too hard. In wild Blitz games it can freeze completely, requiring a screwdriver to open the battery door, disconnect the battery pack and reinstall. The 2000 model has been improved to prevent this. If you see players handling the clock too forcefully tell them to stop hitting the clock so hard. This is annoying to others as well, giving another reason to tell them to stop.

The three Bronstein "time delay" modes are all for single time controls. Therefore, in a game such as 40/2, SD/1 with a 5-second delay, set the clock for 2 hours/5 seconds and, when the time control is satisfied, add one hour to each side for the next time control. Just push the "start/stop" bar until the hour digit on the left begins to flash, press "1", then "ok". Do the same for the right side, leaving the minutes and everything else as is.

DUEL TIMER™

DUEL TIMER™ Tutorial

This tutorial is included to provide explicit directions and examples for using the DUEL TIMER. We recommend briefly examining the DUEL TIMER and then reading this tutorial to better understand setting, presetting and other game options. Also included is a manual card with instructions, that can be carried with the DUEL TIMER.

The DUEL TIMER displays minutes and seconds for each player. Settings for the DUEL TIMER are in minutes and with maximum setting of 180 minutes (three hours). Additionally, there are preset options for tournament play having two time periods as described in the Game Selection Table. The Game Selection Table is included in the manual card and is inside the battery compartment of the DUEL TIMER.

When you first turn the DUEL TIMER on it will beep twice. If you prefer to play quietly, hold down the preset/reset button while turning on the DUEL TIMER. This will disable the beeping sound.

Lesson One

To set both clocks to ten minutes each, turn the DUEL TIMER on and then push or hold both set buttons until the displays show [10:00 10:00]. You can then start the game by pressing the player buttons on the top [- 9:59 10:00].

At any time during a game, you can stop the DUEL TIMER by pressing the stop/clear button once. Begin playing again by pressing the player start buttons on top.

To add or subtract time to either players timers, first stop the DUEL TIMER. To subtract time from the timers, push or hold either set button and the preset/reset button. Pushing the set buttons increments the timers and pushing either set button with the preset/reset button decrements the timers.

To display the number of moves made (move count), while the game is in progress, push and hold either set button. The move count is the number shown in the minutes display [08:45 -09:45]. When you release the set button, the display returns to normal. The move count increments up to 99 moves and then begins to count up from zero again.

*Because the DUEL TIMER does not have a neutral position for the brass player buttons, it is important to begin with the correct players button up.*

When playing Chess, white makes the first move, so the black playerŐs button should be pushed to begin the game. This is important if you are using the move count or the Sudden Death option. When playing Go, black makes the first move, so the white players button should be pushed to begin the game.

Lesson Two

When you want to set the DUEL TIMER, it must be cleared. If there is remaining time on the displays, first stop, then clear the DUEL TIMER by pushing the stop/clear button twice.

Preset options allow you to easily set the DUEL TIMER for longer single period games. Use the Game Selection Table to determine the preset option for a specific timed game. To set the clock to a single period game of 30 minutes, push the set B button once, displaying [ :00 1:00] then push the preset/ reset button [30:00 30:00]. Once you have set the DUEL TIMER, you may still add or subtract time, by pushing the set buttons (lesson one). The DUEL TIMER increments to the maximum of 180 and then begins again from zero.

Once set, the DUEL TIMER, can be reset to play the same game again by clearing and then pressing the preset/reset button. The DUEL TIMER resets to the previously played game. Once the timer reaches zero, the DUEL TIMER beeps three times. This signals game over for that player. After a game is over, the DUEL TIMER can be cleared and is ready to be set or reset.

* Standard Model with Brass Buttons only.

Chess with Sudden Death (Second Period)

The preset options available for chess can be found in the Game Selection Table. Intermediate times can be realized by using the set buttons to increment the timers. This new value of the First Period is stored and can be reset.

To select a common tournament game, such as (40/2+SD60), set the right display with the set B button (lesson one) to display [ :00 23:00] and press the preset/reset button. Both clocks are now set and show the First period [:120:00 :120:00] with 40 moves and 60 minute Sudden Death selected.

It is important to note that if chess presets are used that include Sudden Death, the display shows a colon in front of the players time [:120:00 :120:00]. Once the chess presets with Sudden Death are set, on reset they return. If the colons are displayed, be aware that you are playing with Sudden Death set.

When playing a preset game having a Second period, at the end of each players First period, if the required moves are not made the DUEL TIMER beeps three times signaling game over for that player. If the player makes the required moves, the DUEL TIMER beeps twice and the Second period begins, adding 30 or 60 minutes to the players time. For more than two periods or recurring periods, one can stop the DUEL TIMER and add the additional time to the timers.

Bronstein (Chess with Delay)

Setting Seconds

© 1998 Senseinate Inc.

GARDE 

Saitek

Turn the switch underneath all the way over to the "sound off".

Notes:

When being blitzed this clock can sometimes run on both sides. I have not seen it skip down like the DGT occasionally will do. If you are convinced that this has happened, upon a complaint by the players, give some time back to the side involved. It could be a certain number of seconds depending on the situation.

As with the DGT, the three Bronstein "time delay" modes are all for single time controls. As soon as the move requirement for the previous time control has been satisfied, stop the clocks and just add one hour, or whatever the time is for the next control, to each side.  The silver model has a "user" mode which can be programmed with up to 3 time controls using the time delay from move one.

It is also acceptable, and perhaps easier, to merge the time control for the entire game into one.  For instance, 40/2+5 sec., G/1+5sec. would be G/3+5sec.  The player who has not completed 40 moves by the time the first 2 hours are used has lost on time providing the opponent has an appropriately complete and accurate scoresheet.  This must be explained to the opponent before the start of the game.

USCF
Gametime

Precision