Incorrect clock setting detected late in game

[rfeditor]

@JonH

“In the first place, there are simply too many different digital clocks. No one remembers how to set all of them.” I had stated “if a TD knows how”.

“In the second place, it sounds like you are accustomed to dealing with tournaments of fifteen or twenty players.” You are incorrect, but I know some TDs, such as myself, put more effort into running tournaments than others.

“As for educating the players – that’s not the TD’s job.” It may not be the TDs job, but if a TD has the time and can do so, why would a TD not want to do so?

I have three problems with your argument:

1. If you do it for one, you should do it for all. Otherwise, you are rewarding the pushiest.

2. “Educating” the players is not the TD’s job. Taking extra time to help those who do not understand a clock they voluntarily purchased is rewarding the lazy and/or stupid.

3. At the time this generally comes up (at the start of a round), the TD has more important things to do, like getting the round started on time and posting the wallcharts. Taking time out to show a player how to set his own clock will result in penalizing almost all the players to the benefit of an undeserving few.

[JonH]

@rfeditor

I have three problems with your argument:

1. If you do it for one, you should do it for all. Otherwise, you are rewarding the pushiest.

2. “Educating” the players is not the TD’s job. Taking extra time to help those who do not understand a clock they voluntarily purchased is rewarding the lazy and/or stupid.

3. At the time this generally comes up (at the start of a round), the TD has more important things to do, like getting the round started on time and posting the wallcharts. Taking time out to show a player how to set his own clock will result in penalizing almost all the players to the benefit of an undeserving few.

Once again you fail to note that helping with the clock settings would only be done if there is sufficient time. It is usually only a few, if any, that need assistance with their clocks. I guess youngsters who have trouble setting their clocks are “lazy and/or stupid”.

[rfeditor]

@JonH

@rfeditor

I have three problems with your argument:

1. If you do it for one, you should do it for all. Otherwise, you are rewarding the pushiest.

2. “Educating” the players is not the TD’s job. Taking extra time to help those who do not understand a clock they voluntarily purchased is rewarding the lazy and/or stupid.

3. At the time this generally comes up (at the start of a round), the TD has more important things to do, like getting the round started on time and posting the wallcharts. Taking time out to show a player how to set his own clock will result in penalizing almost all the players to the benefit of an undeserving few.

Once again you fail to note that helping with the clock settings would only be done if there is sufficient time. It is usually only a few, if any, that need assistance with their clocks. I guess youngsters who have trouble setting their clocks are “lazy and/or stupid”.

You are correct that, even if you could prove that #3 would never arise (you can’t, but grant it for the sake of argument), I would still refuse to set clocks for players because of 1 and 2. I retain an archaic belief that chess should foster personal responsibilty. The clock-setting problem is entirely of the player’s own creation – he could have bought a BHB, or he could have spent the day befote the tournament studying his new clock. I find it quite objectionable for the player to ask me to solve a problem he created for himself.

Note that I am not saying you should not run your tournaments this way. (One of my objections to USCF policy in recent years has been the attempt to impose a stultifying conformity on tournaments in different parts of the country.) I think it’s poor policy, but that’s between you and your players.

[ppwchess]

@nolan

Annoyed opponent - explain how the clock works or don’t use it.

What about the opponent who gets annoyed at you after you explain how the clock works?

The Chronos Blitz changes how it displays during a long time limit.

Time limit is 40/2 SD 1

The clock is set for 1 hr 55 mins and 5 sec delay.

Display shows hh:mm until you get under 100 minutes. Then it displays MM:SS. Sometime during the course of the 1st control I drop below 100 minutes (1:40), and my opponent still has over 1:40. He freaks out wondering how come I have 99:30 and he only has 1:45. Where did I get all that extra time? I explain the display and we continue play.

We reach 1st control, it adds an hour, and now the display goes back to hh:mm because he has more then 100 minutes. Now he’s wondering where all his time went, despite the fact that I explained the display changes. So I explain it again. Naturally he kept asking these questions on my move.

He seemed irratated about the explanation. Sigh

Note to self Bring regular Chronos to tournaments with time limits longer then 100 minutes.