Next club night: Monday 7 September, 7.30pm — with the AGMMondays 7.30pm at Tunbridge Wells Bridge Club

Chess clock quick-start

How to set the DGT 2500

The current FIDE tournament clock

Batteries
2 × AA
Increment
Fischer & Bronstein
US delay
Yes
FIDE
Approved — current official clock
Options
36

The DGT 2010's successor and the current official FIDE chess clock.

Illustration of the DGT 2500 chess clock

Before you start

  1. Press the white ON/OFF button on the underside. Press it twice quickly to reset after a game.
  2. Choose an option number with + / −, then press ▶ to select it.
  3. In manual options, move between digits with ◀ / ▶ and change them with + / −. Changes to the left side copy to the right automatically — set the left player first.
  4. Press ▶⏸ to accept everything, put the lever up on White's side, and press ▶⏸ again to start.

Set the popular time controls

Pick the control you are playing and follow the steps — nothing here needs the manual.

15+10

Rapid — 15 minutes + 10 seconds a move

The standard FIDE rapid control — a built-in preset on this clock.

Option 13

  1. Choose Option 13 and press ▶.
  2. Lever up on White's side, then press ▶⏸.

15 minutes each, plus 10 seconds added after every move.

5+0

Blitz — 5 minutes each

Traditional five-minute blitz.

Option 01

  1. Choose Option 01 and press ▶.
  2. Lever up on White's side, then press ▶⏸.

Each player has 5 minutes for all their moves.

3+2

Blitz — 3 minutes + 2 seconds a move

Online-style blitz, as a preset.

Option 09

  1. Choose Option 09 and press ▶.
  2. Lever up on White's side, then press ▶⏸.

3 minutes each, plus 2 seconds after every move.

25+10

Rapidplay — 25 minutes + 10 seconds a move

The usual ECF rapidplay congress control.

Option 14

  1. Choose Option 14 and press ▶.
  2. Lever up on White's side, then press ▶⏸.

25 minutes each, plus 10 seconds after every move.

90+30

Classical — 90 minutes + 30 seconds a move

The standard long-play control.

Option 15

  1. Choose Option 15 and press ▶.
  2. Lever up on White's side, then press ▶⏸.

An hour and a half each, plus 30 seconds after every move.

Custom

Any other control — including different times each player

10+5, 60+10, 60+30, odds games — anything without a preset.

Option 21 (Fischer) / Option 08 (plain time)

  1. Choose Option 21 (or 08 for no increment) and press ▶.
  2. Set the starting time: ◀ / ▶ to move, + / − to change. Set the left player first — then change the right side if the players get different times.
  3. In option 21, set the bonus per move on the next screen the same way.
  4. Leave the moves counter at 0, press ▶⏸, lever up on White's side, and press ▶⏸ to start.

Exactly the control you keyed in. The clock remembers manual settings, so next week it is two presses.

Tips and troubleshooting