DGT XL
is the top of the line professional
timer. It is approved by
International Chess Federation
(FIDE) for the whole spectrum of
tournaments especially world title
tournaments or FIDE title events
tournament. It is well-designed
and similar to Chronos it can be
programmed for any possible modes
you will ever need. Another cool
feature is ability to use it when
playing on-line. It can be connected
to DGT sensory board, so that your
moves and time can be transmitted to
the Internet.
DGT XL is popular throughout the
world, although in US Chronos and
Excalibur models seem to prevail.
I recommend it to strong players and
Internet chess enthusiasts.
The
advantages of DGT XL include:
Option to mix timing systems (e.g
start with a normal countdown period
followed by a "Fischer" or
"Bronstein Delay" period); Increased
display size: digits are 18mm in
height; Connects to the DGT
electronic chessboard and has
special internet features like an
option to display messages; More
display information (timing system,
current game period, white/black
player indicator, ...); Buzzer can
be switched on or off; Easy
operation with extra buttons; Extra
upcount timing method; Save and
retrieve 5 user defined manual
settings.
The DGT XL offers 11 different
standard methods for timing
two-player games. The thinking times
that are most commonly used are
preprogrammed in the DGT Clock, but
it is also possible to combine
different methods by manually
setting your own personal
preferences.
While several methods are well
known, others may be less familiar
to you. Several of these methods
have been in use for a long time;
others are the result of the
possibilities now offered by modern
electronics. Every method has its
own charm and has an influence on
the manner in which a sport is
experienced. The traditional
"quickie" of 5 minutes per person is
different from 3 minutes using
‘Bronstein’ or ‘Fischer’ in which
every move attracts an extra 3
seconds of thinking time, although
the total thinking time for a game
is hardly any different. We
recommend players experiment with
the various methods which the DGT XL
offers. It can add an extra
dimension to your favorite sport.
1. TIME: This is the
simplest way to allocate time. Each
player is given one period in which
they must make all moves.
2. 1 PERIOD + Guillotine:
The first period is used to play a
predetermined number of moves. The
second period, the Guillotine, is
used to finish the game. 1 Period +
Guillotine can be used as an
alternative to the traditional
“Rapid and Blitz” with a quiet
start.
3. 2 PERIODS + Guillotine:
For a less frantic game, it is
possible to play a game with two
periods before the Guillotine.
4. 3 PERIODS + Guillotine:
A quiet end to a game also has its
advantages. The simple traditional
clock gives the players repeated
one-hour periods in which to
complete a predetermined number of
moves. For more than 50 years, it
was standard in chess to play a
serious game in two periods
separated by a break. This had two
disadvantages: Games could not
always be decided after two periods.
From 1990 onwards, the increasing
strength of chess computers and
endgame databases added what some
considered an unfair advantage in
the ability to analyze adjourned
games. Various proposals were made
for ways to finish games in one
session, without having to resort to
the Guillotine method, as this
method may influence the final
result of the game in a way that can
be unsatisfactory to the players.
The ‘Bronstein’ delay’ and ‘Fischer’
methods provided a solution by
giving players a predetermined
amount of extra thinking time after
making each move.
5. ‘Fischer’- Blitz, Rapid and
Slow: This method applies from
the first move, allowing a player to
gain extra time apart from the
standard period, as every completed
move attracts extra time. By
completing moves in a time that is
shorter than the extra time per
move, a player can build up the
thinking time available for
subsequent moves.
6. ‘Fischer’- Tournament:
The ‘Fischer’- Tournament method is
the most complex in the way thinking
time is regulated. In addition to
the extra time available per move,
the player is also allotted an extra
amount of principal thinking time
after a predetermined number of
moves has been completed. 7.
‘Bronstein’- Blitz, Rapid and Slow:
The oldest proposal from the chess
world for a solution to the problem
of limited thinking time came from
IGM David Bronstein. His method
applies from the first move. The
principal thinking time is reduced
by delay. Before the principal
thinking time is reduced the player
has a fixed amount of time to
complete a move. It is not possible
to increase the thinking time by
playing more quickly as it is in the
‘FIDE’ and ‘Fischer’ methods.
8. 2 PERIODS + ‘Fischer’:
This method also applies from the
first move. Starting the game in a
traditional way, the player has to
complete a predetermined number of
moves within a fixed period of time.
By playing the last period using
‘Fischer’, situations where time
trouble influences the result of the
game too much can be avoided.
9. ‘GO’ using the Canadian
Byo-yomi method: This method is
derived from the original Japanese
Byo-yomi method of the game ‘GO’.
When playing with traditional clocks
was the method that was most
commonly used, an official who would
be in control of the time using a
stopwatch would always accompany the
players. The player gets an extra 5
or 10 minutes of extra thinking time
to complete a predetermined number
of moves, usually 10 or 15, after
the standard thinking time has been
used up.
10. Scrabble® + Upcount: In
Scrabble, games have to be finished,
even if a player exceeds the
available thinking time. The more
time a player uses after exceeding
the available thinking time, the
bigger the number of points that
will be subtracted.
11. Hourglass: The thinking
time for the player to move
decreases, while simultaneously the
opponent’s thinking time increases.
This method offers an exciting
alternative to the traditional
‘quickie’.
-
6.0" wide x 4.5" deep x 2-1/2"
high.
-
Requires 2 AA batteries.
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