Chess timer › Chess time controls

Chess Time Controls Explained

A time control is the rule for how much time each player gets. “5+3” means five minutes per player plus three seconds added after every move. Pick one by deciding how long you want a game to last.

Three kinds of time bonus

• Increment (Fischer): a fixed bonus added after your move. In 5+3, a move made in two seconds leaves you one second ahead.
• Simple delay: your clock waits for the delay before it starts counting down. Unused delay is lost, so you can never gain time.
• Bronstein delay: after your move you get back the time you used, up to the delay. Your clock never goes up, but short moves cost nothing.

This timer supports all three. Set the increment or the delay in Settings, and tick the Bronstein box to use that style.

How long will the game last?

A rough maximum for one player is base time plus 40 moves times the increment. For 5+3 that is 5 + (40 × 3 s) = 7 minutes, so a game of 40 moves lasts about 14 minutes. With no increment the game cannot last longer than both base times added together.

Bullet, blitz, rapid and classical

Chess federations such as FIDE sort time controls by adding the base time to a multiple of the increment. As a guide, bullet is under about 3 minutes, blitz is up to 10, rapid is up to 60 and classical is longer.

How to choose

• Learning: pick 10+5 or 15+10 so you can think without panic.
• Training tactics: 3+2 or 5+3 forces fast pattern recognition.
• Short on time: 3+0 or 2+1 finishes in minutes.
• Serious games: use 60+0 or 90+30 and keep notes of your moves.

Classical and stages

Many classical events use stages, for example 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 more minutes, plus 30 seconds per move. This timer has a single stage, so enter a total-time equivalent such as 90+30 for practice, and use the official clocks in a tournament.

Quick links

Open the 5+3, 3+2, 10+0 or 15+10 timer, or start from the main chess timer.