Chess Clock Description / Users' Guide

Chess Clock Program Description / Users’ Guide

In order to prevent players from taking too long over each move, chess is usually timed. The tool for timing chess games is the chess clock.

Chess Clocks consist of two clocks side-by-side. One clock keeps track of the total amount of time the White player has used in the game, and the other clock does the same for the Black player. After a player completes a move on the board, she presses the button closest to her on the clock. This stops her clock, and starts her partner’s clock. Her partner likewise presses the button closest to him after his turn, which stops his clock and starts hers.

Analog clocks start at about $20. Digital clocks start at close to $100. But, if you have a notebook computer, you can make it act like a digital chess clock by downloading our free software!

When you start the chess clock program, you begin with an empty window. You must click on the menu to get things rolling…

First, setup the time controls by selecting Clock / Settings from the menu:

In the dialog which then appears, fill out the time controls you wish. Note that you may give one player a handicap by giving him less time. The default is to give each player 30 minutes for the entire game. This means that the maximum amount of time that the game could last would be 60 minutes (30 minutes for each player).

The default is for the player of the White pieces to sit to the left of the screen. If this player will be sitting to the right of the screen, change the "Positions" setting accordingly. This is important, because White’s clock will start first.

When you have everything set the way you want it, click the OK button.

Now, select Clock / Clock from the menu.

This will bring up the clock screen. Click on "End Turn" (or press the <Enter> or <space-bar> key) to start the clock. After that, each time End Turn (or <Enter> or <space-bar>) is pressed, the currently running clock will stop and the other clock will start.

Use "Time Out" to pause both clocks, and "End Game" to stop timing altogether.

Click here to download the digital Chess Clock now.

Click here to return to 3M Club Chess Club Home Page.

First, setup the time controls by selecting Clock / Settings from the menu:
In the dialog which then appears, fill out the time controls you wish. Note that you may give one player a handicap by giving him less time. The default is to give each player 30 minutes for the entire game. This means that the maximum amount of time that the game could last would be 60 minutes (30 minutes for each player). The default is for the player of the White pieces to sit to the left of the screen. If this player will be sitting to the right of the screen, change the "Positions" setting accordingly. This is important, because White’s clock will start first. When you have everything set the way you want it, click the OK button.
Now, select Clock / Clock from the menu.
This will bring up the clock screen. Click on "End Turn" (or press the <Enter> or <space-bar> key) to start the clock. After that, each time End Turn (or <Enter> or <space-bar>) is pressed, the currently running clock will stop and the other clock will start. Use "Time Out" to pause both clocks, and "End Game" to stop timing altogether.