How is the chess clock used?
The chess clock is actually two clocks combined into one case which has two buttons. Pressing a button starts one clock while simultaneously stopping the other clock. Prior to the start of the game, each clock is set to the appropriate amount of minutes ahead of 6 o’clock. For example, if the time control is G/30, each clock will be set to 5:30. The game is started when Black presses his button to start White’s clock. Each player then completes their turn by depressing the button which stops their own clock and starts the opponent’s clock. In this way, the time a player uses to consider and make each move is deducted from the total time the player was allowed at the beginning of the game. If a player should use all the time allowed, that player’s clock will read 6 o’clock. Each clock has a special feature called a “flag” which makes it obvious when the minute hand passes 6 o’clock. If a player’s flag “falls,” the opponent may claim a victory on time.
