No chess clock at hand? Use your phone
Put your phone or tablet between the players and you have a real chess clock. Each player has their own half of the screen: after your move, tap your side and your opponent’s time starts running. The active side lights up, turns amber under ten seconds and red when the time runs out (the “flag falls”).
Pick a common time control – 1+0 bullet, 3+2 or 5+0 blitz, 10+0 or 15+10 rapid, 30+0 or 60+30 classical – or set your own. The second number is the increment: seconds added after every move (Fischer mode). You can also give players different times to balance a stronger and a weaker player. It works for any two-player game: checkers, Go, Scrabble or a quiz duel.
How to use
- Choose a time control or set minutes and increment.
- Put the device between the players; turn on rotation if you sit face to face.
- The player who doesn’t start taps first: that starts the other clock.
- After each move, tap your own side. Use ❚❚ to pause.
Ideas for using it
- Blitz night. 5+3 for quick, exciting games.
- Teaching beginners. 15+10 so there’s time to think.
- Handicap game. give the stronger player 3 minutes and the beginner 10.
- Other board games. a time limit for checkers, Go or word games.