Best chess clock in 2020 !?
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VTEK-300 would be my recommendation. Rock solid with a very intuitive menu. I will likely die before this clock does.
Feb 18, 2020
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#3
Can never go wrong with a Chronos chess clock. Built like a tank, Will last for a long time. Worth every penny imo.
What about Chronos ZMart pro ? Any good?
One annoying thing about the Chronos GX/FX/Blitz (the shorter Chronos) is it doesn't automatically give the increment for move one like it should (i.e. for G/3;inc2, both players get 3.02, not 3.00, to complete move one under FIDE and US Chess rules) and for for multiple time controls and for time controls with a base time of at least 100 minutes, you can't manually add seconds to the base time when setting the clock to get the increment for move one. The only way to add the seconds is to start the clock for White's first move, pause the clock, and adjust each players time by adding the seconds and adding back any time White lost when you started the clock for White's first move. You will have to do this each time you are using an increment time control that has multiple time controls or has a base time of at least 100 minutes. The Chronos II (the longer Chronos) doesn't automatically give the increment for move one like it should but at least you can always manually add seconds on it when setting the clock to get the increment for move one. One annoying thing about both of the Chronos clocks is that for multiple time controls with countdown delay, you have to choose between setting it in a way where you either: 1) get to see the delay countdown but get no move counter or 2) get a visible move counter on the screen at all times but don't get to see the delay countdown.
The ZMart Pro has huge numbers which many people find distracting.
Once the bugs/mistakes with the Tap N Set and VTEK 300 clocks get fixed, I think these will be the best chess clocks. Some of the main reasons I think these two clocks are the best are:
1) For time controls with delay, the clocks show the delay countdown in digits and the base time at the same time so you can always tell how much time you have remaining for your current move. A lot of clocks either cover up the base time while showing the delay countdown or don't show the delay countdown in digits at all.
2) For time controls with increment, the VTEK 300 always displays increment in the preferred "add-after" method (This is where the increment time is added to the players display right after they press their clock. This way if you are low on time, you can always see on the display how much time you will have for your next move). The most current version of the Tap N Set can be set to display increment in the "add-after" method. A few clocks only display increment in the less preferred "add-before" method, which is where the clock waits until your opponent presses their side of the clock for the increment time to be added to your display. The Tap N Set automatically gives the increment for move one always and the VTEK 300 automatically gives the increment for move one if it's in the FIDE mode (under FIDE and US Chess rules you get the increment for move one. For example, for G/3;inc2, each player gets 3:02, not 3:00, to complete move one). Not all clocks automatically give the increment for move one like they should.
3) The clocks show tenths of a second when you get low on time. More precisely, on the VTEK 300 you can choose if you want to see tenths of a second or not and if you choose to see tenths of a second, you can choose to see the tenths once the time goes below one minute all the way up to when the time goes below sixty minutes. The Tap N Set currently always shows tenths of a second once the time goes below one minute. Most clocks do not show tenths of a second.
4) For multiple time controls, you can set the clocks so the number of moves made is essentially always shown on the screen. On a lot of clocks, you have to press a button on the clock to see the number of moves made on the screen and the number of moves made will no longer be shown on the screen once you stop pressing that button. I have a lot of experience as a tournament director and player and I can't ever recall a player pressing a button on the clock during a game to see the number of moves made.
5) Easy to set.
Have anyone tried this clock?
https://www.chess-evolution.com/shop_detail/78
This chess clock won the FIDE chess clock contract bidding in the following category,
“Chess Clock Recommended by FIDE for National Federations”
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/fide-chess-clock-contract-bidding
Money is not an issue here any price range under $200 is fine.
Needing just ONE clock for all purposes(especially blitz play), that supports all time controls etc....