Chess Clock

How to use the online chess clock

This online chess clock turns your phone, tablet or laptop into a two-player digital chess clock. Each player gets the same amount of time, only the player whose turn it is loses time, and an alarm sounds when someone runs out.

1. Click Set Time and enter the minutes each player gets for the whole game (for example 5, 10 or 30).
2. Click Set Sound to choose the alarm that plays when a clock reaches zero.
3. Press Start. Player 1's clock begins to run and is highlighted.
4. After each move, press the switch button. Your clock stops and your opponent's starts.
5. Press Pause to stop both clocks (to settle a question or take a break), then Start to continue with the same player.

When a clock reaches 0:00, the alarm plays and the screen announces the winner on time. Reset stops the game and sets both clocks back to the default 20 minutes, so set your own time again before the next game.

What this chess clock does, and what it doesn't

• Sudden death time controls. Each player has one bank of time for the whole game. The display shows hours, minutes and seconds, so long games work too.
• Equal time for both players. One setting applies to both clocks.
• No increment or delay. The clock does not add seconds after each move (Fischer increment) or use a delay (Bronstein or US delay). If you want to play 3+2 or 15+10, use a dedicated chess clock app or a physical clock. Playing without increment is common in casual games, but in a lost-on-time scramble it rewards fast hands.
• Free, no ads. Nothing to install and no account.

Common chess time controls

These categories are widely used by online sites and clubs. Exact boundaries vary a little by organizer, so treat them as a guide:

For beginners, 15 to 30 minutes each is a friendly starting point: long enough to think, short enough to finish a game in about an hour. For a tournament, the organizer sets the time control.

Using a phone or laptop as a chess clock

• Place the device to the side of the board, between both players, so each can reach the switch button with the same hand they move with.
• Make your move, then press the clock. Agree that a move only counts once the clock is pressed.
• Turn the volume up so you hear the alarm. On iPhones, tap the page once before the game so the browser allows sound.
• Keep the device plugged in for long games and keep the page open; the alarm only plays while the page is open.
• Use a laptop for club nights. The bigger screen is easier to read from both sides of the board.

Chess clock FAQ

What happens when a player's time runs out?

That player's "flag falls" and, under standard rules, they lose on time. One well-known exception in official rules: if the opponent has no possible way to checkmate (for example, only a king left), the game is a draw instead. The clock only tells you who ran out; the players decide the result.

Can I give the two players different times?

Not at the moment. Both clocks always start with the same amount of time.

Can I use it for other two-player games?

Yes. It works for Scrabble, Go, checkers or any turn-based game where each player should get the same total thinking time. For a single shared countdown, use the countdown timer.