Chess clock: time controls, Fischer increment and delay
A chess clock for phone or computer: bullet, blitz, rapid and classical presets, Fischer increment or FIDE delay, space bar, end-of-time sound and full screen.
Chess clock: time controls, increment and delay under FIDE
Each player starts with a base time. In Fischer mode a fixed amount is added before every move (3 + 2: 3 minutes, then 2 seconds per move); in delay mode the main time only starts running once a fixed delay has passed on each move. The clock stops when a player's time reaches zero.
Increment and delay
- Fischer (cumulative): the FIDE glossary defines it as time added before each move. The clock therefore credits it from the start: in 3 + 2 each side starts at 3:02, and a move played in 5 s leaves 3:02 − 0:05 + 0:02 = 2:59. Online chess sites often show 3:00 at the start and add the increment after the move.
- Delay (Bronstein), Article 6.3.2: the main time only counts down after the fixed extra time; a move made before that time runs out leaves it unchanged. With 3 s of main time and a 5 s delay, the flag falls 8 s into the move. A clock that counted down from the start of the move and then gave back the time used, up to the delay, would match after a move but would flag at 3 s.
Categories
FIDE: blitz if time + 60 × increment ≤ 10 minutes, rapid above 10 and under 60 minutes, standard from 60 minutes. Lichess uses time + 40 × increment: bullet up to 179 s, blitz up to 479 s, rapid up to 1,499 s, classical beyond. The two sometimes differ: 10 + 0 is rapid on Lichess (600 s) but blitz under FIDE (10 minutes); 30 + 20 is classical on Lichess (2,600 s) and rapid under FIDE (50 minutes).
Accurate in the background
Time is not counted down tick by tick: it is recomputed from the moment the move started. If the tab goes to the background, the display catches up on return and a flag that fell meanwhile is dated to the exact instant. The screen stays on where the browser allows it, and the end-of-time sound needs a first tap (a browser rule for audio).
Sources and dates: FIDE, Laws of Chess (in force from January 1, 2023): Article 6.3.2, glossary, Appendices A.1 and B.1; Lichess, FAQ: estimated game duration (checked October 29, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 3+2 mean in chess?
3 minutes of base time per player and a 2-second increment per move. On this clock, which follows the FIDE glossary, the increment is added before each move: each side starts at 3:02, and a move played in 5 s leaves 2:59.
What is the difference between Fischer increment and Bronstein delay?
Increment accumulates: playing fast banks time. Delay does not: with a 5 s delay, a move played in 4 s leaves the main time unchanged but never adds to it.
Which time controls count as blitz?
Under FIDE rules a game is blitz if base time plus 60 times the increment is 10 minutes or less: 3 + 2 (5 minutes) and 5 + 3 (8 minutes) qualify. Above 10 and under 60 minutes it is rapid, such as 15 + 10 (25 minutes).
Does the clock stay accurate if I switch tabs?
Yes: time is recomputed from the moment the move started rather than counted down by a timer. When you come back, the display is exact and a flag that fell meanwhile is dated to the moment the time hit zero.
Is this tool really free?
Yes, all tools on Kristools are 100% free and accessible without registration.
Is my data protected?
Yes. All processing is performed directly and securely inside your browser. No personal data is sent to our servers.