Chess Clock What chess timer settings suit kids?
For a child's first timed games, pick a slower built-in preset such as Rapid 10+0, or add a short delay so an ordinary move costs nothing. Chess Clock's big half-screen buttons make it hard to tap the wrong clock, which matters most when a young player is still learning the routine.
Why timing a kid's game is different
A child learning chess needs time to look at the board, not a countdown that punishes a long think on one hard move. A young beginner is likely to tap the wrong half often in the first few games; the big half-screen buttons mean it never costs any time, which is the part that actually matters. The fixes are the same two things any beginner needs: more base time, and, if you want the clock to feel forgiving, a delay that makes a quick move free.
Which built-in preset to start with
| Preset | Base time | Added per move | Good for a first timed game? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz 3+2 | 3 min | 2 s | No, too fast to think |
| Blitz 5+0 | 5 min | none | Only once tapping is automatic |
| Rapid 10+0 | 10 min | none | Yes, the easiest built-in start |
| Classical 90+30 | 90 min | 30 s | Only for a long, supervised game |
Rapid 10+0, under Built-in, is the simplest choice: ten minutes each with nothing to add or subtract, so there is only one idea to learn, which half to tap.
A delay makes ordinary moves free
A delay does not reward speed the way a Fischer increment does; it only protects a quick, simple move from costing any time at all. That is a better fit for a child than an increment, which rewards racing the clock.
Say you save a custom control with 15 minutes and a 10-second Simple Delay. A 6-second move and a 9-second move both finish inside the 10-second delay, so neither one touches the clock. Only the part of a move that runs past 10 seconds comes out of the bank.
| Move | Seconds spent | Clock after the tap |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 15:00 | |
| 1 | 6 | 15:00 (inside the 10 s delay) |
| 2 | 25 | 14:45 (15 of the 25 s counted) |
| 3 | 9 | 14:45 (inside the 10 s delay) |
Only move 2 cost anything, and only the 15 seconds that ran past the 10-second delay. A child who is still learning to spot a move will not lose time for the moves that only take a few seconds.
How to set it up in the app
- For the simplest start, tap Rapid 10+0 under Built-in on the home list, and skip straight to Start Game below.
- For a delay instead, tap the + button, or Build Your Own Time Control if Custom is empty, to open New Preset.
- Give it a Name, set Minutes to 15 under Base Time, then open Mode under Timing Mode and choose Simple Delay.
- Set Delay (seconds) to 10 and tap Save. It appears under Custom.
- Open the preset, type the child's name under Players, and leave Haptics on so a tap gives a short vibration confirming it registered.
- Tap Start Game and lay the phone flat between you. The screen reads Tap either side to start.
Why the big halves help a beginner
Each half of the clock is roughly half the screen, so there is no small button to miss. A tap on the half whose clock is not running does nothing, which matters with a young player: an extra tap on the wrong side never hands the move away or costs time.
What to avoid at first
- Skip a Fischer increment for the very first games. A reward for moving fast can turn a learning game into a race, which is the opposite of what you want.
- Avoid the shortest preset, Blitz 3+2. Three minutes for a whole game leaves no room to stop and think.
- Keep the flag sound on low-time colours as a learning cue rather than a surprise: digits turn amber at 60 seconds and red at 10, so a child sees the warning coming well before FLAG appears.
Free, and what is honest about limits
Every timing mode, the four built-in presets and unlimited custom time controls, including any delay or increment, are free. The free version shows ads, but never on the clock screen and never while a game is on screen. Chess Clock Pro only adds extra board themes and flag sounds and removes ads; it changes nothing about the clock itself.
The app only times turns: it does not teach chess rules, check whether a move is legal, or adjust itself for a child's skill level beyond the time control you pick. White always moves first, both players always get the same time, and there is no way to give a beginner extra time while a parent or coach plays at normal speed.
Questions and answers
What chess clock setting suits a young beginner?
Should a beginner use delay or increment?
How does a chess clock work, in simple terms?
What happens if a child forgets to press the clock?
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