Tournament Timer
Preset: 5+0 — the standard blitz format
Tap a clock face to pass the move. First to run out of time loses.
Blitz is any time control of ten minutes or less per player, and five minutes with no increment (5+0) is the classic blitz setting used as a default on most online chess sites. At this speed the clock becomes part of the game: strong blitz players deliberately set practical problems, because making the opponent burn time is as valid a strategy as finding the objectively best move.
Without increment, every second matters more as the game goes on, and many games are decided on time rather than on the board. A completely lost position can still be saved if the opponent runs out of clock first. That changes opening choices too: sharp, forcing lines that are risky in a slow game become more attractive in blitz, because they force the opponent to calculate under pressure.
Play openings you know well so you save time for the middlegame. Pre-decide simple recaptures instead of thinking about them. When your clock drops below a minute, keep the position simple and move quickly; a reasonable move played fast is usually better than a perfect move played too late.
What counts as blitz chess?
Under FIDE rules, any game where each player has 10 minutes or less (counting increment over 60 moves) is blitz. 5+0, 3+2 and 3+0 are the most common blitz settings.
Should I use increment in blitz games?
It's a matter of taste. 5+0 produces sharper, more time-pressure-driven games, while a small increment like 3+2 reduces the chance of losing a winning position purely on time.
Is blitz chess good for improving?
Blitz sharpens pattern recognition and intuition because there is no time for deep calculation, but it is best combined with slower rapid or classical games where you can think through plans properly.
What happens if both flags fall?
On this timer the first player to reach zero loses on time. In official play a game can also be drawn if the player with time left has no possible way to checkmate.
Every format has its own pre-set clock: Bullet 1+0, Blitz 3+2, Blitz 5+0, 10 Minute Rapid, Rapid 15+10, 30 Minute Rapid and the Tournament Clock 90+30. Or set any time control you like on the main online chess clock.
Black
White
Black wins on time.