25-10-2017, 10:07 PM
Any clock which does not do increments is not fit for purpose. I strongly believe that not training children to use increments is doing them a disservice.
If the children are to progress to international level then the sooner they are used to increments the better.
Using increments also encourages learning endings as these are far more likely to occur. Simply forcing the opponent to run out of time is not an option - they have to be outplayed.
Better players do not get frustrated by losing, not to an inferior opponent so much as to the clock. How many times have you heard "I was winning but I ran out of time"? That excuse does not hold with increments.
Most importantly, a player can spend longer on a complicated position hoping that they can build up their time again when the position simplifies. With a fixed time control once you are behind on the clock you have two opponents - the player opposite and the clock.
If the children are to progress to international level then the sooner they are used to increments the better.
Using increments also encourages learning endings as these are far more likely to occur. Simply forcing the opponent to run out of time is not an option - they have to be outplayed.
Better players do not get frustrated by losing, not to an inferior opponent so much as to the clock. How many times have you heard "I was winning but I ran out of time"? That excuse does not hold with increments.
Most importantly, a player can spend longer on a complicated position hoping that they can build up their time again when the position simplifies. With a fixed time control once you are behind on the clock you have two opponents - the player opposite and the clock.