A two-sided clock for over-the-board games
Put the phone or tablet between the players. After making a move, each player taps their own half of the screen, or presses their key on a keyboard, which stops their clock and starts the opponent's. A move counter tracks how many moves have been played.
Pick a time control from the list: 1+0, 3+2, 5+3, 10+0, 15+10 or 30+0. The first number is minutes for each player and the second is the Fischer increment, the seconds added to your clock after each move. You can also enter custom minutes and your own increment in seconds.
When a clock reaches zero, the flag falls and the game ends on time. Pause stops both clocks if a dispute needs sorting out, and Reset restores the chosen control. The clock suits casual games, club nights and board game groups, but it is not certified tournament equipment.
Since the whole screen is the button, there is no small control to miss in the middle of a tense endgame. Agree the time control before the first move, and decide in advance what happens if someone taps the wrong side by mistake.
Chess time controls and FIDE classes
FIDE, the world chess federation, sorts games by the minutes each player has, counted as the starting time plus 60 times the increment. In practice the increment in seconds is added as extra minutes, so 3+2 counts as 5 minutes.
| Time control | Minutes counted per player | FIDE class |
|---|---|---|
| 1+0 | 1 + 0 = 1 | Under 3 minutes, below the FIDE blitz range (often called bullet) |
| 3+2 | 3 + 2 = 5 | Blitz |
| 5+3 | 5 + 3 = 8 | Blitz |
| 10+0 | 10 + 0 = 10 | Blitz (10 minutes is included) |
| 15+10 | 15 + 10 = 25 | Rapid |
| 30+0 | 30 + 0 = 30 | Rapid |
FIDE defines blitz as more than 3 and up to 10 minutes counted this way, and rapid as more than 10 and less than 60. Tournaments can set their own rules, so check the event.
Questions about this timer
What does 5+3 mean?
Each player starts with 5 minutes and gains 3 seconds after every move they make.
What is the flag?
It is the signal that a player's time has run out. On this clock it shows when a side reaches zero.
Can I use my own time control?
Yes. Enter any number of minutes and any Fischer increment in seconds.
Can I use it in a rated tournament?
Check with the organizer first. Rated events usually require specific approved clocks.
Related tools
Where this comes from: FIDE Rapid and Blitz Rating Regulations (handbook)