Online Chess Clock – Free, Accurate and Ready for Any Time Control
This online chess clock turns a phone, tablet or laptop into a tournament-style game clock for two players. Put the device next to the board, choose a time control and play: each player taps their own side after making a move, which stops their clock and starts the opponent’s. It works for bullet, blitz, rapid and classical games, supports increments and delays, and keeps counting correctly even if the screen is dimmed or the tab is in the background.
How to use the chess clock
- Choose a time control. Pick a preset such as 3+2 or 15+10, type one in the quick-entry box, or build your own with the custom form.
- Place the device between the players. On a phone, keep Face to face on so the top clock is readable from the other side of the table.
- Start the game. Black taps their clock to start White’s time, exactly as on a physical clock.
- Tap after every move. Press your own half of the screen once you have moved. Use pause, undo and the arbiter panel if something goes wrong.
Increment and delay modes
| Mode | What happens after each move | Notation |
|---|---|---|
| Fischer increment | A fixed bonus is added to your clock, so your time can grow if you play fast. | 5+3 |
| Bronstein delay | The time you used is given back, but never more than the delay. Your clock cannot grow. | 15 b10 |
| Simple delay (US) | Your clock waits for the delay before it starts counting down. | 10 d5 |
| Hourglass | The time you spend is added to your opponent’s clock. | 3 h |
| Sudden death | Nothing is added: the whole game must fit in the base time. | 30+0 |
Popular time controls
| Category | Typical controls | Game length |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet | 1+0, 1+1, 2+1 | About 2–5 minutes |
| Blitz | 3+0, 3+2, 5+0, 5+3 | About 6–15 minutes |
| Rapid | 10+0, 10+5, 15+10, 25+10 | About 20–60 minutes |
| Classical | 30+20, 60+0, 90/40+30 +30 | One hour or more |
The classical FIDE control 90/40+30 +30 means 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, 30 more minutes added after move 40, and a 30-second increment from the first move. You can set up the same kind of extra time with the Extra time after a move number option, and give the players different times with the handicap option, for example 5+3 | 2+3.
What happens when time runs out
When a player’s time reaches zero, the clock stops, an alarm sounds and that player’s side turns red. Under the usual rules, the player who ran out of time loses, unless the opponent cannot possibly checkmate, for example with a lone king. In that case the game is a draw. You can also record a result yourself (checkmate, resignation, draw or stalemate) with the End game button.
Useful features
- Undo takes back a mis-tap and charges the time to the player who should still be thinking.
- Arbiter panel to add or remove time and correct the move counter while the game is paused.
- Low-time warning, tenths of a second under 20 seconds, spoken time calls and vibration.
- Game analysis with charts of the time left and the time spent on every move, plus a history of recent games.
- Keyboard shortcuts: Space, Left and Right Shift or A and L to press the clocks, P to pause, U to undo, F for full screen and M to mute.
- Saved in your browser: settings, presets and the game in progress come back after a reload, paused.
Time management tips
- Spend more time in the opening transition and in critical positions, and play known moves quickly.
- With an increment, keep at least a few increments on your clock so you can still think in the endgame.
- Press the clock with the same hand you move with, and only after the piece has been released.
- Check the analysis after the game to see where you spent too long.