Blitz Chess Time: How Long a Blitz Game Actually Is
Formats · Blitz · Updated 2026-07-22
Blitz chess is 10 minutes or less per player. FIDE's Laws of Chess put it exactly: a blitz game is one where all moves must be completed in a fixed time of 10 minutes or less for each player, or where the allotted time plus 60 times any increment is 10 minutes or less. That second clause is the part people miss - it is why 3+2 counts as 5 minutes and is firmly blitz, while 10+5 counts as 15 and is rapid.
The controls people actually play, the championship control, and where the boundaries sit.
Blitz controls at a glance
| Control | FIDE count (base + 60 x inc) | Blitz? | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3+0 | 3 min | Yes | Fast club and online blitz |
| 3+2 | 5 min | Yes | FIDE World Blitz Championship since 2009 |
| 4+2 | 6 min | Yes | Common online blitz pool |
| 5+0 | 5 min | Yes | The classic club blitz control |
| 5+3 | 8 min | Yes | Blitz with a safety net in the endgame |
| 5+5 | 10 min | Yes, exactly on the line | Borderline; some events treat it as rapid |
| 10+0 | 10 min | Yes under FIDE wording | Chess.com classes it rapid instead |
| 10+5 | 15 min | No - rapid | See the rapid guide |
Note what the increment rule does. A 3+2 game has only 3 minutes on the clock at move one, but FIDE scores it as 5 minutes because a 60-move game would hand back two minutes. That single rule decides which rating list a game lands on, so it is worth knowing before you enter an event.
Why 3+2 replaced 5+0 as the serious blitz control
FIDE's World Blitz Championship used 5 minutes per game for most editions up to 2008 and switched to 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment from the 2009 championship onward. The reason is the endgame. On 5+0, a player with a completely winning position loses if the opponent shuffles pieces until the flag falls - the result is decided by hand speed. With 2 seconds back per move, you can always physically execute a mate, so more games end on the board.
Blitz on the clock: what to set
- Club night: 5+3. Long enough for real ideas, and the increment stops the whole night turning into a flagging contest.
- Match a championship: 3+2, the World Blitz control. Sudden and sharp, but every endgame is playable.
- Old-school: 5+0 sudden death. Purest blitz, and the format most club blitz ladders were built on.
- Improving? Blitz builds pattern speed but not calculation. Pair it with 15+10 rapid and puzzle work, or you will get faster at the same mistakes.
Set a blitz clock in two taps
Chess Clock: Board Game Timer ships blitz presets including 3+2 and 5+0, with full-half-screen press targets so nobody fumbles a tiny button in time trouble, low-time warnings, and haptic confirmation on every press. Custom presets cover any base plus increment you want, and handicap mode gives each side a different clock if the strength gap needs it.
Play blitz on a real clock, right now. 3+2, 5+0, 5+3 and any custom blitz control, one tap from the home screen. Free 7-day trial on the App Store. Download Chess Clock: Board Game Timer on the App Store.
Frequently asked questions
What is the blitz chess time limit?
10 minutes or less per player. FIDE counts the allotted time plus 60 times any increment, so 3+2 (3 minutes plus 2 seconds a move) counts as 5 minutes and is blitz, while 5+5 counts as exactly 10 and sits on the boundary.
What time control does the World Blitz Championship use?
3 minutes plus a 2-second increment. FIDE used 5 minutes per game for most editions through 2008 and moved to 3+2 from the 2009 championship.
Is 5 minute chess blitz or bullet?
Blitz. Bullet is the online convention for anything under 3 minutes per player; FIDE does not define bullet at all, and 5+0 sits comfortably inside the blitz band.
How long does a blitz chess game take?
About 6 to 15 minutes for the whole game. A 5+0 game runs roughly 10 minutes if both clocks are used, 3+2 runs 9 to 15 depending on how long the endgame goes, and 3+0 can finish in 6.