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Zeno Chess Clock

Tournament Timer

minutes / side
seconds / move

Tap a clock face to pass the move. First to run out of time loses.

About This Chess Clock

A chess clock, also called a chess timer, keeps both players honest on time. Instead of letting a game drag on indefinitely, each side gets a fixed budget to think and move. When one player's time runs out, they lose on time regardless of the position on the board, which is the rule used in nearly every over-the-board and online tournament.

This online chess clock, sometimes called a chess stopwatch, turns any phone, tablet or laptop into a two-player digital clock. Put the device next to the board, set the starting minutes and the increment, press Begin Game and tap your own side after every move. There is nothing to install, no account to create and no ads between moves. Your last settings are remembered on your device for the next game.

How to Use the Chess Clock

  • Enter the starting time in minutes for each player (for example 5, 10 or 15).
  • Choose a timing mode: Increment, Bronstein or Delay, then set the seconds.
  • Press Begin Game. No time runs until the first tap, so you can set up the board first.
  • After each move, tap your own clock face (or press Space on a keyboard) to start your opponent's time.
  • Need to give time back? Use the +15s button, just like an arbiter would.

Standard Time Controls

FIDE splits games into three official categories. Blitz is 10 minutes or less per player, rapid is more than 10 but less than 60 minutes, and standard (classical) is 60 minutes or more. Bullet, anything under three minutes, is popular online but not an official FIDE category. Time controls are written as minutes plus increment: 3+2 means three minutes each with two seconds added after every move.

The most common settings are 1+0 for bullet, 3+2 and 5+0 for blitz, 10+0 and 15+10 for rapid, and 90+30 for classical tournaments. The World Blitz Championship uses 3+2 and the World Rapid Championship uses 15+10, so both are good choices if you want to practise under official conditions.

Increment, Bronstein and Delay Explained

Increment (the Fischer bonus) adds a fixed number of seconds to your clock after every move, so your total time can actually grow if you move quickly. Bronstein delay gives back the time you used on a move, up to the delay amount, so your clock never gains time overall. Simple delay (US delay) waits a few seconds at the start of each turn before your main time starts counting down. All three protect players from losing a won position in a last-second scramble.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chess clock?

A chess clock is a timer with two separate displays, one for each player. When a player finishes a move, they press the clock, which stops their own time and starts their opponent's.

How much time should each player get?

It depends on the format: bullet uses one or two minutes per side, blitz uses three to five minutes, rapid uses ten to thirty minutes and classical uses ninety minutes or more. For casual games at home, 10+0 or 15+10 is a comfortable pace.

What does 3+2 or 15+10 mean?

The first number is the starting time in minutes for each player and the second is the increment in seconds added after every move. 15+10 means fifteen minutes each plus ten seconds per move.

What's the difference between increment, Bronstein and delay?

Increment adds seconds after each move so your time can grow. Bronstein gives back the time you used, up to a limit, so it never grows. Simple delay pauses your clock for a few seconds at the start of each turn.

Can I use this chess clock on my phone?

Yes. The clock works in any modern browser on iPhone, Android, tablets and computers. On a phone the top half is rotated so the player across the board can read their time.

Is a chess clock the same as a chess stopwatch?

People often search for a chess stopwatch, but a chess clock is really two linked countdown timers: only one runs at a time, and pressing your side stops your time and starts your opponent's. A normal stopwatch counts up and cannot do this, which is why this page works as a proper chess stopwatch for two players.

Do I need to buy a physical chess clock?

No. For casual games, club practice and teaching, a phone or tablet running this clock does the same job as a dedicated digital chess clock.

Popular Chess Clock Formats

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.

Playing something other than chess tonight? Try the Taboo party game timer, or use the Pomodoro timer to stay focused while you study openings.