Chess Timer — Two-Player Clock & Meeting Timer

Time per player

5:00

Increment per move (seconds)

Tap a player panel to start their clock

Player 1

0 moves

Tap to switch

Player 2

0 moves

Tap to switch

About the Chess Timer

A chess clock gives each player their own time bank. When you finish your move, you tap your side of the clock — stopping your timer and starting your opponent's. This ensures both players use equal total time in a game.

Using as a meeting timer

The same two-player clock works perfectly for meetings, debates, or presentations where you want to ensure balanced speaking time. Use the Meeting presets (5 min or 10 min per person) and tap when you finish speaking.

Time controls

Bullet — 1 minute per player. Ultra-fast games.
3+2 — 3 minutes with 2 second increment. Popular online format.
Blitz — 5 minutes. Classic fast chess.
Rapid — 10–15 minutes. Standard tournament rapid.

Chess time controls explained

Chess clocks enforce time limits so games end in finite time. Classical chess (used in World Championships) gives each player 90-120 minutes for the first 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest. Rapid chess uses 15-25 minutes per player. Blitz is 3-5 minutes. Bullet chess is under 3 minutes. Increment adds a fixed number of seconds after each move (e.g. "5+3" means 5 minutes plus 3 seconds per move).

Classical — 90+ minutes per player, used in official FIDE tournaments
Rapid — 15-25 minutes, increasingly popular for club and online play
Blitz — 3-5 minutes per player, fast-paced and exciting to watch
Bullet — 1-2 minutes, tests speed and intuition over calculation
Increment — bonus seconds added after each move, prevents flagging on a winning position

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the chess timer work?

Tap your side of the board when you finish your move. Your clock stops and your opponent's clock starts. The increment (if set) is added to your time after each move.

What is the time increment?

The increment adds seconds back to a player's clock after each move. In 3+2, each player gets 2 seconds added every time they tap to pass the clock. This prevents players running out of time in longer games.

Can I use this as a meeting timer?

Yes. Use the Meeting presets to ensure equal speaking time. Tap your panel when you finish speaking to pass the floor to the other person.

How does increment work in chess?

Increment adds a fixed number of seconds to your clock after each move you complete. In a "5+3" game (5 minutes plus 3 second increment), you start with 5 minutes and gain 3 seconds every time you press the clock. This prevents flagging (losing on time in a winning position) because you always regain some time with each move.

What time control should beginners use?

Rapid chess (10-15 minutes per player) is recommended for beginners. It gives enough time to think about moves without the game dragging on. Blitz (3-5 minutes) is fun but too fast to learn from individual moves. Classical time controls (60+ minutes) are best for improvement but impractical for casual play.