I was at a recent tournament and saw the following situation occur in the game next to mine. One player made a move and hit the electronic clock button. The times on both sides of the clock reverted back to the original start time (90d10)! The game had been going on for awhile. Both players were young kids. They proceeded to reset the clock themselves based on what they thought the times were and continued playing.
What would have been the proper thing to do in this situation? Has anyone seen an electronic clock do this before?
Some of the cheaper clocks are notorious for this sort of malfunction.
As long as the kids found a solution satisfactory to both of them, I’d say more power to them. No need to intervene. If either player felt cheated by the solution, it would be up to that player to summon the TD.
If the TD witnessed a solution being agreed upon which was grossly unfair to one of the players, then perhaps TD intervention would be appropriate.
It is worth noting that the CH-F1 setting on the Chronos clock (for five minute blitz with no delay or increment) appears to be highly convenient for blitz tournament chess, but in fact is a bad choice. The CH-F1 mode “features” quick reset, meaning that two consecutive presses of the red center button resets the clock. Needless to say, this leads to a nasty surprise for the TD if it becomes necessary to adjust the time on the clock. The first clock press will halt the clock (which either one of the players or the TD will do while the claim is sorted out). When the director tries to hold down the red center button to adjust the time on the clock, the clock will reset itself, leaving the TD with a thunderstruck look. (If this sounds as if it happens to the writer, there is a reason that it does.)
Advice to the diligent TD: Write down the times showing on both clocks before starting to make any adjustment to the clock.
Sound advice from Mr. Ballou. I have adopted a modified version of this. I now use my smartphone to take a picture of the clock and board prior to resolving any disputes. It’s come in handy more than once.
It is unfortunate that the Chronos has any modes at all with the “quick reset” feature. This makes it impossible to make a mid-game time adjustment.
CH-F1 (or any mode with “quick reset”) is IMHO a bad choice for any game, even blitz. What would be so bad about pressing the red center button five times (instead of twice) after each game?
Chronos should eliminate the “quick reset” feature from all modes, replacing it with the ability to make a mid-game time adjustment.