Time management is a crucial part of playing chess. If a player has no command of time management skills, he can never become a chess grandmaster. Each move in chess has different periods which can vary from seconds to a couple of days. For the measurement of time, we use clocks that can be digital, analog, virtual, or physical clock.
Let’s discuss the importance of Chess Time Control expertise and the types of different chess clocks.
Chess Time Control and Chess Clocks
Basically, chess clocks are used to measure the speed of a game and then analyze how much time is spent. Chess clocks consist of two timers; one for each player. Clock for the black starts first and after that clock for white starts. When white presses his clock after his move, he makes two actions; one is that he stops white’s timer, and 2nd he starts black’s timer.
Why there is a Need for Chess Time Control?
Chess Time Control by using chess clocks helps to manage the time for each player according to his moves. There are different benefits of chess clocks because they are as important as chess boards and chess pieces. Some of their benefits are listed below;
- Prevent Limitless Game:
Clocks are used to provide a specific time duration to each player for chess attack techniques to end the game. If a player is not able to perform his best in that time, he will lose the game.
- Ensure Equality in Game:
The use of a chess clock ensures that there is no involvement of human senses in time measurement. So, it ensures equality and fairness in the game.
- Advanced Chess Clocks
In today’s digital world, chess clocks with advanced functions are available and they can also count the number of moves of each player.
Categories of Chess Time Control
There are three general categories of Chess Time Control which are the following;
- Rapid Time Control
- Classical Time Control
- Blitz Time Control
- Rapid Time Control in Chess
As the name indicates that this time control is faster as compared to classic time control. According to FIDE time rules, rapid time control has two common time controls which are 15 minutes+10seconds and 25 minutes+10seconds.
- Classic Time Control in Chess
According to FIDE, the time setting for classical time control is; that the first 40 moves have 90 minutes while 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an additional 30 seconds for each move since the start of the game.
This type of time control is used in several tournaments for master-level chess players or grandmaster events. Time for the non-professional player is 90 minutes with an additional 30 seconds for each move.
- Blitz Time Control
This is the fastest time control variant in FIDE chess game events. The average time for each player is 3 minutes or 5 minutes with possible additional seconds.
There are two common time standards for Blitz time control; one is 3+2 which means each player has 3 minutes for the entire game along with 2 additional seconds after each move. The 2nd one is 5+3. Famous chess grandmaster Nigel Short said that I play way too much blitz chess. It rots the brain just as surely as alcohol.
Types of Chess Clocks
The most frequently used chess clocks include digital and analog clocks.
- Digital Chess Clock
This type of chess clock is an electronic device that helps to keep proper track of time. It also shows the remaining time of the game in an easily readable format along with additional time increments and setting options.
- Analog Chess Clock
Analog chess clock has manual mechanical movements with windable dials specifically for each player that slowly count down the time. They don’t have options for additional time options. But they are not more accurate than digital clocks.
Factors Affecting Chess Time Control
Selection of specific chess time control depends on several factors such as the skills and expertise of the player, preferences, and how much time a player wants to spend. The basic thumb rule is that as slow as your time skills are, the time clock should also be that slow. But if you want to play chess only for enjoyment, you can choose any chess clock. Factors affecting the selection of chess time control are;
- Intensity Preferences: Some players love to enjoy the fast-speed chess clocks whereas some prefer to play slowly by choosing classical time control.
- Playing Style: If a player just recognizes patterns by using his skills and finds out smart moves, he must use Blitz time control. On the other hand, if a player takes time to make plans and think about the game deeply, longer Chess Time Control is more suitable for him.
Summing up
In conclusion, we can say that the skill of Chess Time Control is a crucial factor to win the game. If a player is out of time, it means he is out of the game. But if you want to sharpen your skills, you must practice the game by selecting the chess clock according to your preferences. For beginners, it is time time-consuming process to select the suitable chess time control but once he has found it, the rest of the game is really enjoyable.