Can someone recommend a chess clock?

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Djard007

Hard to believe that chess clock manufacturers do not mention if their products can be set to count down where each player has, say, 20 minutes to make 40 moves. I posted such a question at Amazon, being interested in the "Leap Chess clock" or the "Xflyee Digital Chess Clock," where each sell for $30. Neither the vendor nor other customers are able to answer my question. Is my question a silly one because all chess clocks can be set to, say, 40/90, SD/30? I'd be mighty grateful if someone could throw some light on this matter for me.

NikkiLikeChikki
Have you tried a chess clock app? They work fine, especially on an iPad.
Djard007

Thanks for the great idea. I will definitely download one. But I will still want to get a physical chess clock. Even at the Chess.com store, no information is given about the features of the clocks advertised. Looks like I need to order one from Amazon and return it if it can't be used like the one in videos of chess masters shown on YouTube. Incredible!

DankMemeLord3
H
NikkiLikeChikki
I have a free chess clock on my iPhone. It has all kinds of customization features, and it’s easy to set and use. Did I mention that it was free?

I can understand about wanting a physical clock though. I have an old one that someone gave me and it’s not very good. Looks cooler though.
Cavatine

Zmf-ii is what the north american scrabble association uses an adapted version of. Inexpensive and works well although some find it's too easy to reset it by mistake on purpose.

Djard007

Thanks to all for the kind responses. But nobody has mentioned if a particular clock can indeed be set to 30 minutes to make 40 moves, or where each player has, say, 30 minutes to finish a game, like in chess tournaments (see the timer used by Carlsen, Anand, Fischer et al on Youtube). I get the impression that only chess champions use such timing, which is surely not true.

BlackKaweah
You are looking for a clock that keeps track of the moves, is that correct?
Most clocks can be set to sudden death time controls.
RussBell

Chess clocks...

https://www.chess.com/news/view/chess-clocks-4052

https://www.amazon.com/Wholesale-Chess-Basic-Digital-Clock/dp/B073XRPS7Z/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Wholesale+Chess+Basic+Digital+Chess+Clock+%26+Game+Timer+with+Bonus+and+Delay&qid=1605998267&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHgneZ-7GY8

https://www.amazon.com/LEAP-Approved-Professional-Function-Official/dp/B07T63Y3K8

https://www.uscfsales.com/fide-approved-chess-clock.html

https://www.houseofstaunton.com/fide-approved-chess-clock.html?aw=7&coupon=GOOGLE10&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItriv59OU7QIVxQp9Ch1VNAZAEAQYAyABEgK5IPD_BwE

https://www.uscfsales.com/chess-clocks/sort-by/price/sort-direction/desc.html

NobleElevator

A chess clock I would recommend is the DGT Blue North American Chess Clock(https://www.amazon.com/DGT-North-American-Chess-Clock/dp/B00312D2OU

I personally use it, and it has many features(Increment, Delay, Sudden Death, etc etc), while not being very expensive(It's ~30 USD). If you're looking for a more expensive one(80+ USD) then there are nice ones as well.

LordBolney
I have a DGT 3000. It has a selection of time controls, plus you can define your own if needed (it also counts moves). The manual is on the DGT website if you want to make sure it can meet your specific time control requirements but I would be surprised if it couldn’t.
daxypoo
good chess clocks can all be set to all the different time controls
Djard007

Thank you for sharing the notation of your game.

 

I find that recording the moves is especially useful when you have a cat that likes to move the pieces (he must want to play!). For some reason, I keep getting files d and e backwards, most often after after playing black.

 

Well, I bought a clock and promptly sent it back as the "manual" was an insult. But at least I learned that it is imperative to learn if the instructions are readable before ordering such a product. I have my eye on the DGT3000.

Lona_Chess
Djard007 wrote:

Well, I bought a clock and promptly sent it back as the "manual" was an insult. But at least I learned that it is imperative to learn if the instructions are readable before ordering such a product. I have my eye on the DGT3000.

 

Which clock did you buy that you were unhappy with?

Djard007

The clock I returned was "Flott," advertised as "Chess Clock Digital Count Up Down Professional Checkers Timer Board Game Timer with Bonus and Delay" at Amazon. Not only was the manual ridiculous, but the lever up top got stuck. The vendor promptly issued a refund.

 

I am happy with the PS-1688 model that is advertised as "Digital chess clock countdown with chess moves function. Chess game timer. Basic digital chess clock and game timer - blue" on Amazon for $29.99. It is nice an heavy, so it does not float about on the table; and the display is very clear. I wrote a step guide for the latter that includes configuring custom rules. I am happy to share my manual with anyone interested.

sholom90

Thanks, RussBell, for your post up above.  I looked through a few of them, and it's hard (for me) to tell much of a difference between them -- other than the price.  Does anyone have any thoughts on, e.g., the following four at Amazon?

 


https://www.amazon.com/DGT-4695-3000/dp/B00O53SIKC/ -- $55

https://www.amazon.com/DGT-North-American-Chess-Clock/dp/B00312D2OU -- $40

https://www.amazon.com/LEAP-Approved-Professional-Function-Official/dp/B07T63Y3K8 -- $29

https://www.amazon.com/Wholesale-Chess-Basic-Digital-Clock/dp/B073XRPS7Z -- $22

Xanitrep

I recently bought a tournament set and a clock in preparation for participating in OTB tournaments when they resume.

 I was looking at the DGT NA and the DGT 3000. I ultimately went with the 3000, because it was only marginally more expensive and has some extra features. However, I think that either would be a good choice.

This reddit comment explains why there are two models.

sholom90

Thanks for pointing me to that reddit comment!  That helps a lot.  I've got one more question:  the last comment in that threat (from four years ago) said:

They have different time controls programmed into them. If you play in the USCF, then the NA is the more useful model. If you play outside of the US ... then a 3000 has features more suited for that.

My question is: is that still the case?  My question is very goal oriented here: I don't own any clocks, and I have signed up to play in a USCF tourney (49th Annual World Open, Philly) which said BYO clocks, none provided.

 

Xanitrep

I wouldn't say that the NA is "more useful" for USCF, but rather "sufficient" for USCF. The 3000 is suitable for both USCF and FIDE events, having a wide selection of delay styles like FIscher, US, and Bronstein.

The key quote from the comment that I linked is: "Then they came out with DGT 3000, which is a successor to DGT 2000, and also supports US-style time delay." From searching around, it seems that the delay options on the 3000 are the union of those on the 2010 and the NA.

omegabloom

chess . com has its own, for ios and android. go to more on chess . com and click resources