Tournament Timer
Preset: 90+30 — a standard classical tournament format
Tap a clock face to pass the move. First to run out of time loses.
Classical time controls are what most over-the-board tournaments use, typically starting at 90 minutes or more per player, often with an increment added from the very first move. Ninety minutes with a 30-second increment (90+30) is a common simplified version of formats used in real events — official FIDE tournaments sometimes split the control further, such as 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by an additional 30 minutes for the rest of the game, but a flat 90+30 captures the same spirit for casual or club-level serious play.
At this length, increment or delay stops being a minor convenience and becomes central to how the game is played. A 30-second increment means a player who reaches a complex, roughly balanced position late in the game still has real time to calculate accurately, rather than being forced into instinctive, error-prone moves purely because the clock is low. This is also the setting where Bronstein delay and simple delay modes (available above, alongside standard increment) matter most, since official events often use delay rather than increment specifically to prevent a player's total time from growing unbounded over a long game.
Games at this pace commonly run two to four hours, so treat the clock the way tournament players do: budget your time deliberately across the whole game rather than spending freely in the opening and hoping the increment saves you later.
What time control do real chess tournaments use?
It varies by event, but most classical over-the-board tournaments use something in the range of 90 minutes to two hours per player as a base, frequently with an increment or delay of 30 seconds or more per move from the start.
Should I use increment or delay for tournament-style play?
Both are used in real events. Increment adds time after each move and can let a player's total time grow; Bronstein and simple delay give back time up to a cap without letting total time increase. Use the timing mode selector above to switch between them.
Is 90+30 an official FIDE time control?
It's a simplified stand-in for real classical formats, which often split time across move counts (like 90 minutes for 40 moves, then more time added). 90+30 flat captures a similar pace for club games and serious casual play without needing to track move counts.
Playing a faster game today? Try the Rapid Chess Timer or the Blitz Chess Timer.
Black
White
Black wins on time.