Chess Time Controls Explained: Bullet, Blitz, Rapid & Classical
Time controls · The formats · Updated 2026-07-10
"3+2" means 3 minutes on your clock plus 2 seconds added after every move you make. That one notation unlocks every time control in chess - the first number is base minutes, the second is the increment in seconds.
Where the format boundaries fall, and which controls people actually play:
The four formats
| Format | Total time per player | Popular controls |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet | Under 3 minutes | 1+0, 2+1 |
| Blitz | 3 to 10 minutes | 3+0, 3+2, 5+0, 5+3 |
| Rapid | 10 to 60 minutes | 10+0, 10+5, 15+10, 25+10 |
| Classical | Over 60 minutes | 30+0, 45+45, 90+30 |
FIDE counts increment when classifying: total time is base minutes plus 60 moves' worth of increment. So 3+2 counts as 5 minutes - still blitz - and 15+10 counts as 25 minutes of rapid.
What each format is for
- Bullet (1+0, 2+1): pure reflexes and pattern memory. Great fun, terrible for improvement - premoves beat plans.
- Blitz (3+2, 5+0): the club standard. Enough time for real ideas, short enough for a dozen games a night. 3+2 is the modern favorite because the increment kills dirty flagging.
- Rapid (10+5, 15+10): the sweet spot for improving players - long enough to calculate, short enough to finish. 15+10 is the FIDE World Rapid control.
- Classical (90+30): tournament chess. FIDE's standard is 90 minutes for the whole game (or 90 for 40 moves then 30 more) with a 30-second increment from move one - a multi-stage control your clock has to actually support.
Start any of them in two taps
The app ships 12 presets across all four formats - tap 5+0 Blitz or 15+10 Rapid and you're playing. The custom builder handles any base + increment combination, and the multi-stage builder does real tournament schedules with automatic move counting. Your most-recent control sits at the top, one tap from the next game.
Every control, preset and custom. Bullet to 40/90+30 tournament chess, with handicap mode and Apple Watch. Free 7-day trial on the App Store. Download Chess Clock: Board Game Timer on the App Store.
Frequently asked questions
What does 3+2 mean in chess?
Three minutes of base time per player, plus two seconds added to your clock after each of your moves (a Fischer increment). It's classified as blitz because 3 minutes + 60×2 seconds = 5 minutes total.
What time control should a beginner play?
Rapid - 15+10 is ideal. You get enough time to actually think through a position, and the 10-second increment means you'll never lose a winning endgame just because the clock hit zero.
What is the official FIDE time control for classical chess?
For most FIDE events: 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. Elite events sometimes use 120/40 then 60, with the same increment concept.
Is 10+0 blitz or rapid?
Rapid, just barely - FIDE draws the blitz/rapid line at 10 minutes total. Online sites vary: some call 10+0 rapid, others their fastest rapid pool. With any increment added (10+5), it's unambiguously rapid.