Online chess clock
A free digital chess timer for games on a real board. Tap your own clock after you move.
Black
5:00
0 moves
White
5:00
0 moves
Last updated
How does a chess clock work?
A chess clock runs only one player's time at a time. After you complete a move you press your own side, which stops your timer and starts your opponent's. If your clock reaches zero you lose on time, unless your opponent has no way of delivering checkmate.
- Set the time control. Pick a preset. Blitz 5|0 is the most common casual choice.
- Start the clock. Tap the clock of the player who is NOT moving first. That starts White.
- Move, then press. Make your move on the board, then press your own clock with the same hand you moved with.
- Watch for the flag. When a clock hits zero it turns red. That player has lost on time.
What do the numbers in a time control mean?
The first number is minutes per player, the second is seconds added per move. So 5|3 means five minutes each for the whole game, plus three seconds credited to your clock every time you complete a move. That added time is called the Fischer increment.
| Category | Typical control | Game length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet | 1|0, 2|1 | Under 3 min | Speed and pattern recognition |
| Blitz | 3|2, 5|0, 5|3 | 5-12 min | Casual online and club games |
| Rapid | 10|0, 15|10 | 20-40 min | Beginners and improving players |
| Classical | 30|0, 60|30 | 1-3 hours | Serious tournament play |
Why an increment helps. Without increment, a winning position can be lost purely because you ran out of seconds. An increment of two or three seconds a move means a game is decided by the chess rather than by who can click fastest.
Do I need a physical chess clock?
Not for casual games. This page works on any phone propped beside the board. For rated tournament play you will need a physical clock, because most arbiters do not permit phones at the board, and a dedicated clock has a hardware button that is faster and more reliable than a touchscreen.
Frequently asked questions
What time control should beginners use?
Rapid 10|0 or 15|10. Faster controls punish slow calculation, which is the thing beginners most need time for.
Which hand do I press the clock with?
The same hand you moved the piece with. This is an actual tournament rule, not etiquette.
What happens if both flags fall?
If neither player claimed the first flag fall before the second, the game is a draw.
Can I lose on time in a winning position?
Yes. Time is part of the game. The one exception is that if your opponent has no possible way to checkmate you, running out of time is a draw rather than a loss.
Does the clock keep time if I switch tabs?
Yes. It measures elapsed wall-clock time rather than counting ticks, so background throttling does not distort it.