Chess Clock Chess increment vs delay: Fischer, Bronstein and US delay compared
An increment adds seconds after every move and can build a bank above your starting time. A delay only protects you from losing time on quick moves and never adds more than you had. Bronstein delay and US (simple) delay end each move on the same number; they differ in what the clock shows while you think.
The four modes in one sentence each
- Sudden Death: your clock only counts down.
- Fischer Increment: after each completed move, the increment is added to your clock.
- Bronstein Delay: your clock runs from the first second, and when you complete the move you get back what you spent, up to the delay.
- Simple Delay (US delay): your main time does not move for the first delay seconds of each move, then counts down.
Delay vs increment with real numbers
Take 5 minutes per player and 5 seconds of delay or increment. Here is where one player's clock stands after a quick move of 3 seconds and a slower one of 8 seconds, each starting from 5:00.
| Mode | Move of 3 s | Move of 8 s |
|---|---|---|
| Sudden Death | 4:57 | 4:52 |
| Fischer Increment +5 | 5:02 | 4:57 |
| Bronstein Delay 5 | 5:00 | 4:57 |
| Simple Delay 5 | 5:00 | 4:57 |
On the quick move, increment gains you 2 seconds while both delays leave you exactly where you were. On the slow move all three land on 4:57, and only sudden death costs the full 8 seconds.
Bronstein vs US delay: what is the difference?
The end result per move is identical. The difference is what you see while thinking. Three seconds into a move with a 5-second delay:
| Mode | Main time shown | Hourglass |
|---|---|---|
| Bronstein Delay | 4:57, back to 5:00 on the tap | 2 |
| Simple Delay | 5:00 | 2 |
With Bronstein the clock visibly drops and the time comes back when you tap. With simple delay the main time holds still until the delay is used up. In both delay modes an hourglass on the active side counts down the delay seconds left, rounded up.
Bronstein vs Fischer increment
Both give time back for each move, but Bronstein never returns more than you spent. Ten 1-second moves with a 3-second Bronstein delay leave a 5-minute clock at exactly 5:00, while ten 1-second moves at 3+2 take a 3-minute clock up to 3:10.
How to set up a delay in the chess clock app
- On the home list, tap the + button to open New Preset.
- Enter a Name, then set Minutes (and Seconds if needed) under Base Time.
- Under Timing Mode, open Mode and pick Bronstein Delay or Simple Delay.
- Set Delay (seconds), from 0 to 60, and tap Save. The row shows a summary such as 5 min · delay 5s.
- Tap the preset, check the explanation on Setup, then tap Start Game.
Which one should you pick?
- Casual blitz with friends: increment is the easy choice and keeps endgames playable.
- Players who dislike a growing clock: either delay mode stops time loss on fast moves without adding any.
- Following a club or event: use whatever the organiser specifies. The app has all four modes, but for events the organiser's clock and rules come first.
Questions and answers
Is Bronstein delay the same as US delay?
Can a delay give me more time than I started with?
Is there a chess clock app with delay?
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