Chess Clock Online
A two-player chess clock for your phone, tablet or laptop. Pick a time control, tap your side after each move and let the clock handle increment, delay and flag fall. Free, in your browser, no signup
Time Control
Changing the time control resets the clocks. Colors, seating and sound change without touching the game.
Adjust clocks
Available before the game starts or while paused
How to use this tool
- Pick a preset (Bullet, Blitz, Rapid or Classical), or enter minutes, seconds and the bonus in seconds for each player.
- Choose the bonus type: Increment, Delay or Bronstein. Turn on the handicap option for different starting times, and the second-stage option for classical controls.
- Tap Start, then tap your side of the clock after each move.
- Watch the move counter and the flag; the clock stops when one side runs out of time.
Worked example
A 5+3 game starts each player on 5:00 and adds 3 seconds after every move. If you play 40 moves averaging 10 seconds each, you spend 400 seconds and earn 120, so you finish with 300 + 120 − 400 = 20 seconds. With a 5-second simple delay your clock stays frozen for 5 seconds each move, so a 3-second move costs nothing and an 8-second move costs 3. With a 5-second Bronstein delay you get back the time you used, up to 5 seconds: a 3-second move refunds 3, an 8-second move refunds 5. Time is read from timestamps, so a throttled tab cannot cost you time.
Methodology
The clock implements the time-control schemes used in competitive chess. Fischer increment adds a fixed number of seconds to your clock when you complete a move, as in the common 5+3 blitz format. Simple (US) delay keeps your clock frozen for the delay length at the start of each move and discards whatever you do not use. Bronstein delay refunds the time you actually spent on the move, up to the delay value. A second stage adds minutes once a player reaches a move number, the way classical controls give 30 extra minutes at move 40 (Article 6 of the FIDE Laws of Chess covers the chess clock, including time-delay modes).
Independent, unofficial utility. Not affiliated with FIDE, any chess federation, online chess platform or clock manufacturer, and it uses no logos or proprietary names. It is not certified for rated tournaments: use the equipment your arbiter requires.
What a preset really gives you per move
Time available to play 40 moves with a Fischer increment, spent evenly, before any extra time.
| Preset | Starting clock | Budget for 40 moves | Average per move |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1+0 | 1:00 | 1:00 | 1.5 s |
| 3+2 | 3:00 | 4:20 | 6.5 s |
| 5+3 | 5:00 | 7:00 | 10.5 s |
| 10+5 | 10:00 | 13:20 | 20 s |
| 15+10 | 15:00 | 21:40 | 32.5 s |
| 90+30 | 1:30:00 | 1:50:00 | 165 s |
The budget is the starting time plus 40 increments, for example 5:00 + 40 × 3 s = 7:00. In 90+30 the extra 30 minutes at move 40 come on top. Use the table to compare formats, not to plan a game: nobody moves at an even pace, and the clock still flags the moment your time hits zero, before the next increment arrives. With Delay or Bronstein, the bonus never adds to the budget, so it only protects short moves.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between increment and delay on a chess clock? ▼
With a Fischer increment you gain the bonus after every move and unused time stays on your clock: in 5+3, a 2-second move nets you +1 second (3 gained, 2 spent). A simple (US) delay holds your clock still for the delay and discards what you do not use, so a 2-second move under a 3-second delay changes nothing. Bronstein refunds the time you spent, up to the delay: that same move costs nothing too, but a 10-second move only gets 3 seconds back.
How do I set up 3+2 or 5+3 blitz on this chess clock? ▼
Press 3+2 or 5+3 under Blitz. The first number is the minutes each player gets and the second is the increment in seconds added after every move. For anything else, type minutes, seconds and bonus under Custom time and choose the bonus type. The 90+30 preset also adds 30 minutes after move 40, the usual classical format.
Can two players use one phone as a chess clock? ▼
Yes. Choose Face-to-face seating and press Table mode: the top panel is rotated so each player reads their own clock when the phone lies flat between you. Press the center button or tap either side to start White's clock; after each move, tap your own side to pass the turn. Keep screen on asks the browser to stop the phone from locking mid-game (where supported).
What happens when a player runs out of time? ▼
The clock stops, that panel turns red, a three-beep alarm sounds if sound is on and a banner names the player whose flag fell. Under Article 6.9 of the FIDE Laws of Chess that player normally loses, unless the opponent cannot checkmate by any series of legal moves, in which case the game is drawn. The clock does not judge material, so the arbiter or the players decide.
How do I fix a wrong tap or correct the times? ▼
Undo last tap restores the previous clock state: both times, the move counters and whose turn it is, and you can step back several taps. To correct times use Adjust clocks while paused: ±10 seconds or ±1 minute per side. Refreshing the page starts a new game because nothing is stored, but the time control stays in the link.