Chess Clock

Chess clock with bullet to FIDE classical presets, Fischer increment, Bronstein and US delay, undo, arbiter tools and a move-by-move time analysis.

Space press clock · ⇧/A ⇧/L left / right player · P pause · U undo · F full screen · M mute

Create a time control

Quick entry Type e.g. 5+3, 15+10, 90/40+30, 10 d5 (delay) or 15 b10 (Bronstein).

Time per player

♔ White min sec

Different time for each player (handicap)

Increment type

Seconds

Add time after a number of moves

Settings

Player names

Clock style

Options

Low-time warning

Recent games

Finished games appear here with their result and time analysis.

Chess timer · Increment · Delay

The chess clock that feels like the real thing

Put your phone or tablet next to the board and play. Every popular time control is one tap away - from 1-minute bullet to the FIDE 90/40+30 classical control - with Fischer increment, Bronstein and US delay, hourglass and handicap. The clock keeps exact time, survives a reload, lets you undo a mis-tap and shows how both players used their time when the game is over.

How to use the chess clock

1
Pick a time control

Choose a preset such as 5+3 or build your own with increment, delay or extra time after move 40.
2
Place the device

Lay a phone flat between the players - the top clock turns to face your opponent - or stand a tablet or laptop beside the board.
3
Tap to start

White moves first. Tap any clock to start White's time, then each player taps their own clock after moving.
4
Review the game

When a flag falls or you end the game, see time per move, time trouble and who managed the clock better.

Increment, delay and hourglass explained

The base time is what each player starts with. The increment type decides what happens after every move.

Type	What happens after each move	Example
Fischer increment	A fixed number of seconds is added to your clock after every move.	3+2: 3 minutes, +2 s per move
Bronstein delay	You get back the time you used on the move, up to the delay. Unused delay is lost.	Use 3 s with a 5 s delay → +3 s
US (simple) delay	Your clock waits for the delay before it starts counting down.	5 s delay: a 4 s move costs nothing
Hourglass	The time you use is added to your opponent's clock.	You think 10 s → opponent +10 s
Sudden death	Nothing is added - one fixed amount for the whole game.	10+0

Popular time controls

Chess formats are grouped by the expected game length: base time plus 40 times the increment.

Format	Expected length	Typical controls
Bullet	under 3 minutes	1+0, 2+1
Blitz	3 to 10 minutes	3+0, 3+2, 5+0, 5+3
Rapid	10 to 60 minutes	10+0, 10+5, 15+10, 25+10
Classical	over 60 minutes	30+0, 60+0, 90/40+30 (FIDE)

What happens when time runs out?

Under FIDE rules a player whose flag falls loses the game - unless the opponent has no way to checkmate with any series of legal moves (for example only a bare king), in which case the game is drawn. You must press the clock with the same hand you moved with, and a move is only complete once you have pressed the clock. In casual games, agree on the rules before you start.

Time management tips

Bank time in the opening

Play known opening moves quickly and save your thinking for the critical middlegame positions.
Watch the increment

With increment you can always play on. Without it, keep at least a minute for the endgame.
Avoid long thinks

One 10-minute think rarely pays off. Set yourself a limit and decide.
Review your clock

The analysis after each game shows where you lost time - use it to adjust your pace.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start the chess clock?

Choose a time control, then tap either clock. White's time starts first. After each move, the player who moved taps their own clock to start the opponent's.

What does 5+3 mean?

Each player starts with 5 minutes and gains 3 seconds after every move (Fischer increment). The first number is minutes, the second is seconds.

What is the difference between increment and delay?

Increment adds time after every move, so your clock can grow. Delay only protects you while you think: with US delay the clock waits before counting down; with Bronstein you get back the time used, up to the delay. Neither delay type can increase your time.

What is the FIDE 90/40+30 time control?

90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 more minutes for the rest of the game, with 30 seconds added from move 1. This clock adds the 30 minutes automatically when you complete move 40.

I tapped the clock by mistake - can I fix it?

Yes. Press Undo (or U). The time the wrong clock ran is given back, and the player who should have been thinking is charged instead. You can also pause and adjust either clock or the move count.

Can players have different times?

Yes. In the time control builder turn on handicap and set separate times for White and Black - useful for teaching or games between players of very different strength.

Will the clock keep running if my screen turns off or I reload?

The screen is kept awake while the clock runs. Time is calculated from timestamps, so it stays exact in the background. If the page reloads, the game is restored and paused so no time is lost.

Can I use a keyboard?

Yes. Space presses the clock of the player to move, left and right Shift (or A and L) press the left and right clocks, P pauses, U undoes, F toggles full screen and M mutes.