What Is 3+2 in Chess? Fischer Increment Explained

How to read time control notation

The first number is the base time in minutes for each player. The second is the increment in seconds, added after each move. So 3+2 is 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move, 15+10 is 15 minutes plus 10 seconds, and 5+0 has no increment at all, which is sudden death.

How the Fischer increment changes your clock

The rule the app uses is simple: new time = time before the move, minus the seconds you spent, plus the increment. The increment is added only when you complete the move by tapping. If your clock hits zero while you are still thinking, you flag and get nothing.

Blitz 3+2: one player's clock over three moves
Move	Seconds spent	Clock after the tap
Start		3:00
1	5	2:57
2	12	2:47
3	1.5	2:47 (167.5 s)

Move 3 took 1.5 seconds and earned 2, so the clock went up by half a second. The display shows whole seconds, so it still reads 2:47.

Your bank can grow above the start

Ten quick replies in 3+2 take the clock from 3:00 past 3:05 to 3:10. This is what makes increment different from a delay: a delay can only save you time, never add to it.

How to play 3+2 in the app

On the home list, tap Blitz 3+2 under Built-in.
Check the Setup screen: it shows Fischer Increment and the summary 3 min + 2s.
Type names in White and Black if you like, then tap Start Game.
After each move, tap your own half. The 2 seconds are added the moment you tap.

15+10 and other increments

15+10 is not built in, so save it once as a custom control. Tap the + button on the home list, give it a Name, set Minutes to 15, pick Fischer Increment under Mode, set Increment (seconds) to 10 and tap Save. It appears under Custom as 15 min + 10s.

With 15+10, a first move that takes 20 seconds leaves 14:50 on your clock: 900 minus 20 plus 10 seconds.

How much clock time does a game use?

Each completed move adds the increment, so the most time a player can spend over 40 moves is the base plus 40 increments. This is only the time on the clocks. A real game runs longer because of pauses and set-up, and many games go past 40 moves.

Maximum clock time for 40 moves each (base + 40 x increment)
Control	Per player	Both players
3+2	4:20	8:40
5+0	5:00	10:00
10+0	10:00	20:00
15+10	21:40	43:20
90+30	1:50:00	3:40:00

Tips for playing with increment

When you are low on time, quick safe moves rebuild your bank two seconds at a time in 3+2.
The increment arrives only after you tap. A move you do not complete before zero earns nothing.
Undo removes the last tap together with the increment it added, so nobody keeps time they did not earn.

Questions and answers

What does 3+2 mean in chess?

Three minutes per player for the whole game, plus 2 seconds added to your clock after each move you complete. It is a common blitz control.

What does 15+10 mean in chess?

Fifteen minutes each plus a 10-second increment per move. It is a popular rapid control and you can save it as a custom preset in the app.

Is increment added before or after the move?

In the app it is added after: you think, move, tap, and then the increment goes onto your clock. Some delay systems work differently, which the delay vs increment guide explains.

Can a Fischer increment give me more time than I started with?

Yes. If your moves take less time than the increment, your clock grows above the base time. Ten 1-second moves in 3+2 take you from 3:00 to 3:10.

Chess increment vs delay: Fischer, Bronstein and US delay compared · Chess Clock
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Fischer increment in chess: what 3+2 and 15+10 mean