Old Days Of Chess Poem by Darwin Henry Beuning
Old Days Of Chess
I've been playing tournament chess
Since 1976.
Chess, a wonderful game of -
Cat and Mouse.
Back then we used mechanical clocks,
With a flag.
Flag drops, you lose.
There was no time delay,
Or Increment,
Time controls
Were 40 moves in two hours
And 20 moves for every hour beyond,
My longest game
Was 7 hours and 12 minutes.
It ended in a Draw.
Now chess clocks
are digital.
There is also a time delay
or increment.
Where in life
Is there a Time Delay?
It is just not natural.
Yet, we love the game,
And play on.
Checkmate!
That was a very long game of chess-over seven hours and a draw. I was unaware of the timing devices that used to go with chess until I read this stimulating, competitive poem.
Seven hours for one game of chess? That's amazing! How does the chess clock work?
Maryellen, there is now a picture of a chess clock beneath my poem. When you make your first moves, you hit the clock, which starts your opponents clock.. Then he moves, and hits his. If your time runs out, Flag Drops, you lose. Most games are won or lost before time control.
You're right! Life has no time delay or increments! Or does it? A truck almost runs you down, but you jump out of the way just in time. Did you just get an increment to your life? Or a delay to your death? Or both? Fascinating things to think about! You know I hate the time delays and increments on chess clocks, but maybe life SHOULD have them!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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8/2/2025 6:59:20 AM # 1.0.0
Both flags are down on the clock in the picture. That means that either player can claim a draw!