Chess Clock
Chess clocks can be distinguished from regular clocks
as these come equipped with two timers built into one
unit - one for each player. The two clocks do not run
simultaneously, but rather keep track of the player and
his opponent's total used time. This distinctive feature
in the chess clock keeps the chess game moving at the
desired pace since both players have a predetermined
number of minutes to complete their game.
Importance of a chess clock
At the heart of every organized chess competition is
a reliable chess clock and such a clock is instrumental
can help tightly run chess tournaments with hundreds
of chess players as it runs like clockwork, round after
round, concluding on time.
Functioning of a chess clock
There are two buttons on top the clock to start and
stop the timers in an alternating fashion. Before the
game starts, the time is stopped and the buttons set
in neutral position. After the first player makes the
initial move, he is required to press the button on his
side of the clock and his opponent's time starts to run
while the time on his clock is pause. When the opponent
makes his move, he will press the button on his side,
which stops his timer and starts that of the first player.
This may seem a bit tiresome at first and make take a
little getting used to, but using a chess clock is an
integral part of every chess move so a serious player
needs to become skilled at it.
Setting the chess clock
There are digital and analog chess clocks available
today. Most chess players prefer the digital ones for
versatility and variety of features. Analog chess clocks
need to be wound using the two winders on the back face,
taking care not to over do the winding bit. Analog clocks
give a good 12 hours of operating time. There are even
the rare battery powered analog chess clocks, which do
not require winding.
Using a chess clock in tournament play
All chess tournaments depend on reliable chess clocks
that keep the whole place ticking and organizers happy.
Chess tournaments can be organized at different levels
such as a Standard, Action Chess, Blitz Chess, Speed
Chess or Game 30, depending on how fast a game is expected.
Slow chess tournaments like the US Championships allow
1 hour to 2 1/2+ hours per player and can last beyond
7 hours! Many tournaments that pre-decide the pace allot
1 hour per player, 30 minutes for Action Chess), 15 minutes
for Quick Chess, 5 minutes for Speed or Blitz Chess.
There are many
more fixture articles in our fixture
section. There
is more specific information in the links at the beginning
of this article. They can guide you where you need
to go.
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