Let’s say the time control for the tournament is G/3;inc2. Three moves into the game, the players realize the increment was not set on the clock. Under the current US Chess blitz rules, the increment would not be added for the remainder of the game due to blitz rule 3 that states:
“Before play begins, both players should inspect the position of the pieces and the setting of the clock, since once each side has completed a move the position on the board and the time on the clock remain as set.”
Wouldn’t it be better if the rule was the same as regular and quick chess which states:
16P1: “If a delay- or increment-capable clock is used at an event with a delay or increment time control and the delay or increment is not set, this is handled in the same fashion as an erroneously set clock. The delay or increment should be set for the remainder of the game. The director should use his or her best judgement when determining the clock settings”.
No. Blitz is blitz, blitz is fast, one illegal move loses and the game has to be under 10 minutes.
Fiddling around resetting clocks - and positions; note that the same is true for the position of the pieces, which in contrast to quick or classical chess are not modified 1 move rather than 10 - is antithetical to the spirit of blitz chess.
So? I don’t see this as a good argument here. Also, blitz has a total playing time of 5 to 10 minutes, not under 10 minutes. G/10;d0, for example, is blitz rated.
Rule 1A is always available. If a blitz clock was accidentally on the wrong setting and the G/5;d0 was set for 5:00 in HH:MM instead of MM:SS then I would intervene regardless of whether or not both sides have made moves. The same would be true if it was supposed to be G/5;d0 but it was set for G/5;d5.
Recently someone told me they just always do their blitz at 5;d2 since it is a preset on the old DGT N/A and near impossible to screw it up. I have seen one set on the manual delay with a 5;d5 and I wondered how someone would not notice the count down of the delay starting at 5. Maybe someone was playing an ad hoc game.
The original DGT NA doesn’t show the delay countdown in digits. Instead, it has the word “delay” flash each second during the delay countdown (this is the main reason why I don’t like this clock). This is probably why the players didn’t notice the delay wasn’t set correctly. I’ve seen multiple instances of the delay not being set at all on the original DGT NA and the players not noticing.
Yeah – I keep forgetting about that. Another good reason to have all the N/As set by staff before the tournament – I personally use TC’s d10 v d5 so I am use to making sure all the NAs are set – I clear them off all the boards and corral ones that ready for use.
I think since that doesn’t disrupt or reach absurdity level, no need to invoke 1A. Just a lesson learned in the spirit of the rule. and if it there was another game with that clock make sure it is set to 3+2.