Chess Clocks and Timers: A Complete Guide

A chess clock, also called a chess timer, is what turns chess into a test of time as well as skill. It gives each player their own countdown, running only on their turn, so a game cannot drag on forever and managing the clock becomes part of the challenge. This guide explains how chess clocks work, the difference between analog and digital, the main time controls you will meet, how to set one up, and how to choose the right one. Clock and timer are two names for the same device, so whichever term you use, this covers it.

Let us start with how the thing actually works, because the idea is simpler than it looks.

How a chess clock works

A chess clock is really two clocks in one housing, linked so that only one runs at a time. On your turn your clock counts down; when you finish your move you press your button, which stops your clock and starts your opponent's. If your time runs out before the game ends, you lose, no matter how good your position, which is why time is as precious as material in a timed game.

That single mechanism, invented for tournament play in the 19th century to stop games dragging on indefinitely, is what makes competitive chess possible. It is also why clock management is a genuine skill: a winning position counts for nothing if the flag falls first.

Analog or digital?

Chess clocks come in two kinds, and the difference matters when you choose one.

Analog clocks are the classic mechanical design, with two dials and a small "flag" that lifts as the minute hand approaches the hour and drops when time expires. They are simple, need no batteries, and have a nostalgic charm. Their limitation is that they cannot do the modern time controls, increments and delays, that most play now uses.

Digital clocks are what serious play uses today. They keep precise time, show the exact seconds remaining, and crucially support increments and delays, move counters, and multi-stage controls. If you play at a club, enter tournaments, or want to use modern time formats, a digital clock is the one to buy. The tournament standard is set by DGT, whose clocks are used at official events worldwide.

Understanding time controls

The "time control" is simply how the clock is set, and a handful of formats cover almost all play.

Sudden death is the simplest: each player gets a fixed total time for the whole game, say ten minutes each. Run out and you lose. Increment (also called Fischer) adds a few seconds to your clock after every move you make, so you are rewarded for moving and rarely left with no time at all; a common setting is 90 minutes plus 30 seconds a move. Delay waits a few seconds before your main time starts counting down each turn, achieving something similar. Multi-stage controls, used in classical tournaments, give a block of time for the first set of moves and then more time after, for example 40 moves in two hours then an hour for the rest.

The formats also define the pace of the game: classical games run to hours per player, rapid gives roughly 10 to 60 minutes each, blitz is around 3 to 5 minutes, and bullet as little as 1 minute. A digital clock lets you set any of these; an analog clock is limited to the simple sudden-death style.

Setting up and using a chess clock

Using a clock is quickly second nature. Place it beside the board where both players can reach it, traditionally to the side of the player with the black pieces. Set your chosen time control, and both clocks start at the same time. White makes the first move and presses their button, which starts Black's clock.

From there the rhythm is simple: make your move, then press your button with the same hand you moved with. Press gently with one finger to avoid a double-tap, and never press before you have completed your move. If you need to stop the game, use the pause function. When a player's time expires the clock signals it, by a dropped flag on an analog clock or a display and beep on a digital one, and if the opponent has enough material to deliver checkmate, the game is lost on time.

Simple timing strategy

Good clock management comes down to a few habits. Do not burn time in the opening on moves you know; save your thinking for the middlegame where it counts. Keep an eye on both clocks, not just your own, since a time advantage is a real weapon. And in an increment game, try to move briskly enough to bank a few seconds each turn, building a buffer for the sharp moments later.

The trap to avoid is "time trouble", the frantic scramble when your seconds are nearly gone. If you get there, simplify the position and play safe, solid moves, and lean on your increment or delay to stay afloat. Learning to play under time pressure is a skill in itself, and one that comes only with practice on a real clock. Our guide on how to play chess covers the rules the clock sits alongside, and our guide to chess openings for beginners helps you play the opening quickly and confidently so you keep time in hand.

Choosing the right chess clock

For almost everyone, a quality digital clock is the right choice: it handles every time control, keeps precise time, and will see you from casual games through to tournaments. An analog clock is worth it mainly if you love the classic look and only play simple sudden-death games. App-based timers on a phone are fine for a casual game, but they are not tournament legal and lack the feel of a proper clock.

Within the digital range, the choice is about features and budget. Entry-level DGT timers like the DGT1001 cover the essentials simply and affordably, while the DGT3000 adds the full range of controls and a large clear display that serious players prefer. If you want the exact clock used at official events, the DGT2010 is FIDE-approved and the tournament standard. All of them, and the analog options, are in our chess timers and clocks collection.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a chess clock and a chess timer?

None; they are two names for the same device. A chess clock (or timer) is two linked countdown clocks in one unit, so that only one player's time runs at a time. Some people say "clock" and others "timer", but they mean the same thing.

Do I need a digital or analog chess clock?

For most players a digital clock is the better choice, because it supports modern time controls like increments and delays, keeps precise time, and is tournament legal. An analog clock suits those who love the classic mechanical look and only play simple sudden-death games without increments.

What is an increment in chess?

An increment is a small amount of time, often a few seconds, added to your clock after each move you make. Introduced by Bobby Fischer, it rewards you for moving and helps prevent the situation where a player with a winning position loses purely on time. A common setting is 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment.

How do you set up a chess clock?

Place the clock beside the board within both players' reach, usually on Black's side. Choose your time control (the base time plus any increment or delay), and start both clocks. White moves first and presses their button, starting Black's clock. Each player presses their button after completing a move.

Which chess clock do tournaments use?

DGT is the tournament standard, with clocks used at official events worldwide. A FIDE-approved model such as the DGT2010 is the safe choice if you plan to compete, since it meets the requirements organisers expect and handles every standard time control.

Choosing your clock

A chess clock adds a whole dimension to the game, turning time into something to be spent wisely alongside your pieces. For most players a good digital clock is the answer; choose the feature set and budget that suit you, and if you plan to compete, a FIDE-approved model. Learn its settings, practise with a few time controls, and clock management will soon feel as natural as moving the pieces.

When you are ready, browse our full range of chess timers and clocks, from entry-level to tournament-approved. Every Sterling Chess order is backed by our 100 day free returns, so you can choose with complete confidence.

Written by Kurt Ebrado, Customer Experience and resident player at Sterling Chess. Kurt plays plenty of club and rapid chess and knows that a lost-on-time game teaches the value of the clock faster than anything, and that most players learn clock management the hard way. He believes a good digital clock is one of the best-value upgrades a developing player can make, because it opens up every format the game is played in.