DGT 2010 Chess Clock Review

Reviews / By Andrew Hercules
DGT 2010 CHESS CLOCK

The DGT 2010 is the official FIDE chess clock, approved and recommended by the International Chess Federation FIDE. It is in full accordance with the FIDE rules and regulations for chess clocks and with the Laws of Chess. It can be used for all 2-player games such as chess, go, draughts, shogi, Scrabble and many, many more.

The DGT2010 covers all popular timing systems and has 22 pre-programmed timing options as well as manual settings for all timing options. Each timing method has its own charm and every system influences the way in which a sport or game is experienced.

We recommend experimenting with the different timing methods. It will add an extra dimension to your favorite sports and games.

 DGT 2010 Specifications

Technical SpecificationsDescription
Batteriestwo AA (1,5 Volt)
Battery lifeapprox. 5 years
Accuracywithin 1 sec/hr
HousingABS plastic
Colorburgundy
Display size25 x 135 mm
Clock weight210 grams
EU directives2004/108/EC 2011/65/EU
dgt 2010 chess clock

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 DGT 2010 Buttons and Display

ON/OFF
  • Located at the bottom of the clock: switch on and off or reset for next game.
  • Decrease the blinking number.
  • Enable or disable sound.
  • Reload byo-yomi.
  • Increase the blinking number.
  • Show move counter during play.
  • Start/Pause the clock.
  • Activates time correction when pressed for two seconds.
  • Activate selected option.
  • Accept the blinking digit.
  • Check active option number.
  • Battery power indication, when the icon is visible the batteries should be replaced.
bonus
  • Indicates that a bonus period is active.
delay
  • Indicates that a delay period is active.
Byo-yomi
  • Indicates that a byo-yomi period is active.
  • Non-blinking flag shows first player to enter next period. Disappears after five minutes.
  • Flashing flag shows player that has run out of time.
Hrs (min)
  • Indicates that the time is displayed in hours and minutes (separated by a colon).
Min (sec)
  • Indicates that the time is displayed in minutes and seconds (separated by a colon).
Sound on
  • Indicates that sound is activated.
  • Indicates that the clock is paused or ready to start a game.
  • Indicates that the clock is running.
  • Indicates the player colour.

Display Layout

Sound

When sound is activated the “sound on” icon is shown in the display and beeps will be heard at 10 seconds and on the last 5 seconds of a period. To switch off the sound press the button when the clock is paused. Options 26-36 have sound on by default; the other options have sound off by default.

Selection of Timing Options

 Turn on the clock with the ON/OFF button at the bottom of the timer. The display will show the last used option number. Use the and buttons to change the option number and press the button to select the required option. The display will show the default starting time for the selected option.

To speed up setting the clock, keep the , or buttons pressed down. Before starting the game ensure the lever is in the correct position i.e. upward on the side of the first player to move. The player colour is indicated by the symbol in the display. Start the game by pressing the button. During play or when the clock is paused, the number of times the clock has been pressed can be displayed by pressing the button.

Functioning of the clock will not be interrupted when checking this move counter. During play only press the lever at the end of each turn to ensure the correct number of moves is counted. The timer can be paused during play and restarted by shortly pressing the button.

Pressing the button for two seconds will start the time correction procedure. During a game, the selected option number can be checked by pressing the button. Functioning of the clock will not be interrupted when checking the option.

Manual settings 

To create a timing method that is not pre-programmed select the manual set option for the timing system you require and set all parameters manually, digit-by-digit. First, the main period for each player must be set. The hours and minutes will appear first. After accepting these values, the seconds can be set.

Subsequently a number of other parameters can be set depending on the selected option. The period number is also shown in the display. Blinking digits can be changed using the and buttons. Press to confirm a digit and move to the next one. If a period is programmed with a zero value for thinking time, no further parameters can be set for this and any subsequent periods.

When all parameters have been entered the display will show the Pause symbol and the clock can be started. Manual settings are stored in the clock’s memory until they are changed or until the batteries are removed.

Important things to note

The zeros are only displayed when the clock is not previously programmed or reset. When a manual option is selected (or when time correction mode is selected), it is possible to skip the one by one entry of values by pressing the button as soon as the first blinking digit appears.

Previously set parameters remain unchanged and the clock is ready to be started at once, showing in the display. If you wish to check each parameter in a manual setting, keep the button pressed down to see all parameters move by quickly or simply press through the blinking options one by one.

Option 21 Bonus Tournament allows the programming of four periods, all with the same bonus time per move. For the first three periods, a move number can be programmed. If the move number is set to a non-zero number, the time for the next period is added when a player has completed the programmed number of moves for that period.

If the move number is programmed to 0 (zero) moves, then the transition to the next period takes place when a player’s clock indicates 0.00. The time for the next period is then added for both players at the same time.

If the move number is set to a non-zero number and a player does not complete the required programmed (non-zero) number of moves in any period, the DGT2010 will freeze and time counting is stopped for both players and the game has ended. On the side of the player that reached 0.00 a blinking flag will be shown to indicate that this player lost the game on time. Using the move counter in this way means that the players must take great care to correctly press the clock after each move.

FIDE does not recommend using the move counter method for transition to the next period. Instead transition to the next period when 0.00 is reached, is the preferred method. It remains the responsibility of players and arbiter to check whether the correct number of moves has been played in any period.

Time and Move Counter Corrections 

During a game the times in the display can be changed. To enter correction mode hold the button for two seconds until the far left display digit starts blinking. Now the times of both players can be corrected, digit by digit by pressing the and buttons.

Press the button to confirm a digit and move to the next one. After the time is corrected the move counter can be corrected. Press to resume countdown. If you make a time correction when using an option with multiple periods, the clock will normally assume that play continues in the same period that was active when the time correction was initiated.

Displayed time

The maximum time is 9 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds. If the available thinking time is more than 20 minutes, the display shows hours and minutes (the icons “hrs” and “min” are visible). When less than 20 minutes remain, the clock displays minutes and seconds (“min” and “sec” icons are shown).

Warranty conditions 

This product complies with our highest quality standards. Any warranty claims should be directed to the retailer where the product was purchased (you may be asked for proof of purchase). When returning a product under warranty please state serial number and give detailed description of reason for the claim. The warranty is only valid if the product has been used in a reasonable and prudent manner as intended to be used. Warranty is void if the product has been misused or if unauthorized repair attempts were performed without prior written consent from Digital Game Technology.

Pricing

The DGT 2010 costs a $109.95 off Amazon. However, you can get it a discounted price of $79.95 when you purchase off Chess House. ChessHouse.com is the #1 supplier of chess related products known for their trustworthiness and fast delivery of products.

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DGT 2010 Time Formats

The DGT 2010 is a comprehensive game clock that can be used in several board games for example chess, scrabble, Shogi etc. Each of these board games have different time formats to chose from. These include:

1. Blitz:A very quick game where each player’s thinking time is 10 minutes or less.

2. Rapid:A quick game where each player’s thinking time is more than 10 minutes, but less than 60.

3. Classical: Much time is given to each player; a classical game can take as long as 6 hours or more.

4. Period / time control:A game can be divided into several periods whereby each period lasts a certain amount of time and within each period a certain number of moves must be completed (time control). At the end of a period it must be checked whether the player made the required number of moves. If there is only one period all moves of a game must be completed within that time. In the last period all remaining moves of the game must be played.

5. Time:Time settings are basic countdown settings. When it is a player’s turn, his clock simply continues to count down. Options 01-09 have one or more periods with the Time setting.

6. Bonus: In Bonus settings players receive an additional amount of time for each move (typically 2-3 seconds bonus time per move in blitz, 10 seconds bonus time in rapid, and 30 seconds in classical chess). The bonus time is added before each move from the start of the game. Playing with bonus time per move is also called playing with increments or playing with Fischer Bonus after the 11th World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer who championed the system.

Playing with increments has become the standard in chess. Options 10-14 have a Bonus setting in the last period only (and Time settings in preceding periods). Options 15-21 have Bonus settings in all periods. Note that according to FIDE rules the clock can no longer be operated in Bonus settings when one of the players runs out of time in the last period. The clock then freezes and a blinking flag will be shown.

7. Delay: In Delay settings the players are given a certain amount of free time at the start of each turn before their main thinking time starts counting down. In the official FIDE chess clock this Delay time is added to the main thinking time in the display so that the total time available to each player is always visible. At the start of a player’s turn, the clock starts countdown and if the player moves within the delay time, the time in the display will return to what it was before the start of the turn. This is called Bronstein Delay after Grandmaster David Bronstein who first proposed the method. Options 22-25 have Bronstein Delay settings.

8. Byo-Yomi:  Byo-Yomi options are mainly used in the games of Go (Baduk) and Shogi. The first period is almost always a Time countdown period in which there is no required minimum number of moves. Players transit to the byo-yomi period when the time of their first period runs out and it is thus possible that one player has reached the byo-yomi periods when the other player is still in the first period.

There are a number of byo-yomi periods with a set amount of time for each move. For example: after the first period players receive 5 byo-yomi periods of 1 minute each. If a player moves within 1 minute the clock will jump back to show 5 minutes. If a player takes longer than 1 minute but moves within 2 minutes, the clock will jump to 4 minutes remaining, and so on.

9. Canadian byo-yomi. In Canadian byo-yomi a certain amount of time is given in the second period to complete an agreed number of moves. When the agreed number of moves is completed, the player’s clock can be reloaded with the byo-yomi time by pressing the button for one second. In option 30 it is possible to manually set a number of moves after which the clock will automatically reload the byo-yomi time.

10. Hourglass: In Hourglass options players start with the same amount of time on the clock (typically one minute each) but everytime one player’s clock is counting down, the other player’s clock is counting up. This is a fun timing method that requires players to move quickly.

11. Gong: In Gong options players receive the same amount of time for each move. They have to make their move when a signal indicates the end of their turn. This is a fun option for use at home or school.

12. Scrabble: . In Scrabble™ options, when zero is reached, the clock will start counting up.

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Post you may like: Time Control for Chess Tournament

Andrew Hercules

Hercules Chess, launched in 2020, is a website that teaches you about chess. We started as a chess blog and became a chess training platform in early 2022.

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