Start by checking the free choices
You do not need Pro simply to play with increment or delay. The free app includes 1, 3, 5 and 10 minute time controls, Fischer increment, Bronstein delay, US Delay, common increment and delay values, and quick tournament presets.
Look through those options before creating a custom format. If the time and value you want are already available, choose them and play. History, pause/resume, haptic feedback and flag-fall detection are also included for free. Pro is about going beyond the standard choices.
Build a complete time-control agreement
A custom control needs a starting time, a timing mode and an extra-seconds value. Write those down separately so you do not confuse minutes with seconds or increment with delay. For example, a fifteen-minute starting budget and a seven-second Fischer increment is a different agreement from fifteen minutes with seven seconds of US Delay.
Those are illustrative custom values, not named free presets. Choose values that suit your session and are accepted by the app’s controls. The listing confirms custom game lengths and bonus values; it does not promise every conceivable time-control structure.
Set custom starting time with Pro
Custom game lengths let you choose a starting budget beyond the standard time presets. This can be useful when you have a specific amount of time for a practice session or want to match a club’s agreed format.
Select your custom starting time in setup and check the displayed summary. Both players should understand the budget before Start. Do not estimate the duration of the whole session simply by adding the two initial clocks: increment, delay and interruptions can make games last longer.
Customize increment or delay values
Choose Fischer, Bronstein or US Delay first, then set the custom seconds value with Pro. The mode changes what those seconds do. Fischer adds the whole amount after a completed move. Bronstein refunds only time spent up to the allowance. US Delay waits through the allowance before spending main time.
Changing a bonus value can materially change how the game feels. A larger Fischer increment makes it easier to build time with quick moves. A larger delay protects more time at the start of each move but still does not bank unused seconds.
Use the timing-system comparison to decide which behavior you want. It also explains the app’s Bronstein flag-fall limit, which is especially important for very short starting budgets.
Check the setup with a practice turn
- Agree on starting minutes, timing mode and seconds.
- Enter the custom values in the Pro setup.
- Review the summary together before Start.
- Try a quick turn switch to confirm the expected timing behavior.
- Start your actual game using the agreed setup.
The App Store calls out advanced custom tournament setups, but does not specify multi-period time controls, time odds, saved preset libraries or staged move-based additions. This website does not promise those capabilities. For an organized event, check its required format and device rules.
A one-time purchase, with free essentials
Pro is a lifetime, non-consumable unlock purchased through Apple. There is no subscription, and there are no ads for free or Pro users. The existing privacy policy states that purchases can be restored through Apple’s restore flow and that Apple processes payments.
Check the App Store purchase screen for the current price in your region. This site avoids displaying a fixed Pro price because storefront prices can vary. Standard presets and timing systems remain available without the upgrade.
After playing, record White wins, Black wins or a draw. Free history includes the time control, move count and timestamps. It is useful for recalling your custom session, but is not advertised as move notation or an exportable chess log.
Product features: Chess Clock on the App Store. Standard timing modes are free; Pro unlocks custom values.