When Time Stands Still Please allow me to discuss a disturbing rule change which is currently in effect. That is the use of the "time delay" on digital clocks? "Time stands still for no man" is irrelevant when this feature is in use!? Many years ago, we played chess with mechanical clocks. Each player was alloted the same amount of time. If your time ran out, you lost the game. Period. Now, a player can run his clock down to seconds left, but if he makes his move quickly enough (within 3 or 5 seconds) his clock doesn't advance at all? The first player who has properly paced himself and used his time wisely is confronted with a circumstance whereby both players end up thinking on his time. If the second player who is in time trouble continues to move "rapidly" his clock will not advance at all???  In effect, time stands still???! Therefore, it becomes necessary for the first player to pick up his pace of play in order to hope to cause the second player to pause for a moment and think?! Why this rule was put into play I will never know. It simply makes no sense that the player who has conducted his game properly should be penalized and his opponent rewarded by having 3 or five seconds to reflect before his clock begins to advance again? Simply put, correct play gets tossed out the window and a wild scramble insues? Why is that good? In addition, instead of shortening the length of the game, it does the exact opposite ?! Therefore, if for whatever the proponents reason is for justifying the time delay of 3-5 seconds, I believe it would only be fair to require that at least 1 second elapse off of the clock for each move!!! That way, when a player ends up with 15 seconds left on his clock, he has exactly 15 moves in which to checkmate his opponent!! Or, he may decide that a Draw is a better solution; that is, if he offers it with enough time left for his opponent to consider it. The "delay crowd" wants 5 seconds, the rest of us want 1 back. Think about it. It's only fair. Furthermore, the clock was introduced in order to prevent players from sitting and not moving. In the age of changing rules expressly to accommodate directors who want their rounds to start on time, the use of the delay rule actually extends the length of the game?! It simply doesn't make sense that a player in severe time trouble can execute numerous moves without his clock advancing at all?? Hence, a motion will be made at the next USCF Delegates meeting to change the rule accordingly. ie. "the advance of at least one second per move will occur for all clocks using time delay." Don't worry, the clock manufacturers will gladly sell you a new clock with that feature (if they don't already have it built in now). NM Leland Fuerstman