The delay runs before the main clock
At the start of your turn, the delay allowance begins. Your main time stays unchanged while that allowance runs. If you complete the move before the delay finishes, the main clock has not lost time. If you think longer, the main clock begins decreasing after the delay has been used.
The allowance belongs to each turn, not to the whole game. Your next turn starts with a fresh delay. It does not depend on how much of the previous turn’s allowance you used, and it cannot be accumulated.
What does a five-second delay look like?
Suppose your main clock shows one minute and the delay is five seconds. A three-second move ends with the main time still at 1:00. The two unused delay seconds are discarded when you press the clock.
An eight-second move uses the first five seconds as delay and the next three seconds from the main clock. After the turn switch, the main display shows 0:57. A twelve-second move uses seven seconds of main time and leaves 0:53.
Main time used = max(0, time spent − delay)
Those examples assume the player completes the turn before the protected delay plus remaining main time expires. Delay does not remove the possibility of losing on time; it changes when the main budget starts being spent.
How is US Delay different from Fischer?
Fischer increment adds the whole increment after a completed move. A three-second move with a five-second increment increases a one-minute clock to 1:02. The same move with a five-second US Delay leaves the main clock at 1:00.
Both modes give players extra thinking allowance over a long game, but only Fischer lets quick moves bank time. “Five seconds per move” is incomplete as a setup instruction. Name the timing mode so both players know what will happen.
How is US Delay different from Bronstein?
Bronstein delay uses a different display convention: the clock counts down, then returns time spent up to the delay when the player presses the clock before flag fall. US Delay leaves the main time still while the allowance runs first. Neither preserves unused delay for a future turn.
For a completed move with enough time remaining, both produce the same net main-time cost: zero for a move within the allowance, or only the excess time for a longer move. They should not be described as identical displays.
In Chess Clock, there is also a practical flag-fall difference. Its Bronstein refund happens only after a move completed before the running countdown expires. US Delay postpones main-time consumption from the beginning of the turn. The comparison guide explains why a late Bronstein press cannot be rescued by a refund.
How do I set US Delay in Chess Clock?
- Choose an available starting-time preset.
- Select US Delay in the setup timing choices.
- Choose an available common delay value.
- Check the starting minutes, mode and delay in the summary.
- Press Start and tap your active side after each move.
The app includes 1, 3, 5 and 10 minute presets, common delay values and quick tournament presets for free. Pro is a one-time unlock for custom game lengths and custom timing values. US Delay itself is available without Pro.
Use it beside a real board
US Delay can be used in short or longer over-the-board sessions. The board holds the position while the app manages two time budgets. Agree on the delay before starting, and try a short turn so both players recognize when the main time begins falling.
Pause/resume, flag-fall detection, and result history are free features. History includes the time control, move count and timestamps, but not a list of chess moves. For a full setup walkthrough, see using an iPhone as a chess clock. For organized play, follow the event’s clock requirements.
Product features: Chess Clock on the App Store. Standard timing modes are free; Pro unlocks custom values.