A wireless programmable digital chess clock having to a housing, a display mounted in the housing and operatively arranged to display time associated with a first player's clock and operatively arranged to display time associated with a second player's clock, a first switch mounted in the housing and operatively arranged to stop the first player's clock and start the second player's clock when activated; a second switch mounted in the housing and operatively arranged to stop the second player's clock and start the first player's clock when activated, a microcontroller operatively arranged to set and control the first and second players' clocks, and, a near field communication module, in communication with microcontroller, and operatively arranged to receive signals from an external transmitting device, where the signals are used to set the time on the first and second players' clocks.

Timing systems configured to be used with a computing device including an electronic display and a tilt sensor. The timing systems include a switch and computer executable instructions. The switch includes a base and a cradle. The cradle is pivotally mounted to the base and configured to support the computing device. The cradle is configured to pivot relative to the base between a first pivot position and a second pivot position. The computer executable instructions are stored on the computing device and include instructions for displaying a game timer on the electronic display of the computing device. The instructions include controlling the game timer in response to the tilt sensor detecting that the cradle has pivoted between the first pivot position and the second pivot position.

Timing systems configured to be used with a computing device including an electronic display and a tilt sensor. The timing systems include a switch and computer executable instructions. The switch includes a base and a cradle. The cradle is pivotally mounted to the base and configured to support the computing device. The cradle is configured to pivot relative to the base between a first pivot position and a second pivot position. The computer executable instructions are stored on the computing device and include instructions for displaying a game timer on the electronic display of the computing device. The instructions include controlling the game timer in response to the tilt sensor detecting that the cradle has pivoted between the first pivot position and the second pivot position.

A system for tracking the time allotted to and the time spent by a first player and a second player playing a two-person game is provided. The system includes a first and second display for use by the first player and a third and fourth display for use by the second player. The first and fourth displays each display the amount of time remaining for the first player to make his/her moves during the duration of the game, and the second and third displays each display the amount of time remaining for the second player to make his/her moves during the duration of the game. In this way, each player has use of one display that displays his/her remaining time, and one display that displays his/her opponent's remaining time. The system also includes control mechanisms for each player to pause his/her time countdown after his/her turn and to subsequently begin his/her opponent's time countdown at the beginning of his/her opponent's next turn.

A football-style chess game and method for opposed players includes an eight-by-eight checkerboard-style game board having an End Zone at each player end of the board, two sets of game pieces, each set including conventional chess pieces, e.g. a Quarterback (QB), a Fullback (FB), a Running Back (RB), a Wide Receiver/Defensive Back (WR/DB), a Linebacker (LB), and eight Front Line (FL) pieces. A method is also disclosed wherein the chess game is played for a fixed duration of time, and points (dollar values) are awarded to the players. The player having the highest cumulative point total at the end of the game is then declared the winner. A method is also disclosed for adapting the chess game for play electronically, such as through a global network of computers.

A football-style chess game and method for opposed players includes an eight-by-eight checkerboard-style game board having an End Zone at each player end of the board, two sets of game pieces, each set including conventional chess pieces, e.g. a Quarterback (QB), a Fullback (FB), a Running Back (RB), a Wide Receiver/Defensive Back (WR/DB), a Linebacker (LB), and eight Front Line (FL) pieces. A method is also disclosed wherein the chess game is played for a fixed duration of time, and points (dollar values) are awarded to the players. The player having the highest cumulative point total at the end of the game is then declared the winner. A method is also disclosed for adapting the chess game for play electronically, such as through a global network of computers.

A game timer, suited in some embodiments as a chess clock, designed to calculate and display minimum average playing speed in moves per unit time over a sequence of one or more time controls based on input for number of moves in each time control, time allotted at the start of each time control, whether or not a delay applies to the moves of a particular time control, and time of the delay. In addition to these inputs, calculation of minimum average playing speed takes into consideration whether a delay comes before or after a move, whether or not a delay constitutes time available in the current time control, shortening of delays by players in the course of a game, and time remaining at the end of a time control. One embodiment estimates playing speed for sudden death over an entire game.

A wireless programmable digital chess clock having to a housing, a display mounted in the housing and operatively arranged to display time associated with a first player's clock and operatively arranged to display time associated with a second player's clock, a first switch mounted in the housing and operatively arranged to stop the first player's clock and start the second player's clock when activated; a second switch mounted in the housing and operatively arranged to stop the second player's clock and start the first player's clock when activated, a microcontroller operatively arranged to set and control the first and second players' clocks, and, a near field communication module, in communication with microcontroller, and operatively arranged to receive signals from an external transmitting device, where the signals are used to set the time on the first and second players' clocks.

The present invention relates to a programmable digital chess clock that includes a QR code, other 2D barcode, and/or 1D barcode reader for reading a QR code, other 2D barcode, and/or 1D barcode that encodes instructions for programming and setting the digital chess clock. In some embodiments, the digital chess clock comprises a microcontroller operatively arranged to program and set the digital chess clock, wherein the QR code, other 2D barcode, and/or 1D barcode reader is operatively arranged to read the QR code, other 2D barcode, and/or 1D barcode and send a signal to the microcontroller to program and set the digital chess clock.

The present invention relates to a programmable digital chess clock that includes a QR code, other 2D barcode, and/or 1D barcode reader for reading a QR code, other 2D barcode, and/or 1D barcode that encodes instructions for programming and setting the digital chess clock. In some embodiments, the digital chess clock comprises a microcontroller operatively arranged to program and set the digital chess clock, wherein the QR code, other 2D barcode, and/or 1D barcode reader is operatively arranged to read the QR code, other 2D barcode, and/or 1D barcode and send a signal to the microcontroller to program and set the digital chess clock.