What is Game Timer?

Game Timer is an all-in-one timer designed for board games, card games, and competitive play. It offers two distinct modes to cover different gaming scenarios:

Chess Clock

A classic 2-player clock with professional time controls used in chess tournaments worldwide

Turn Timer

A multi-player timer supporting 2 to 8 players, perfect for board games, card games, and group activities

Chess Clock Mode

The Chess Clock provides the same experience as a physical chess clock. Each player has their own countdown timer. When you make your move, tap your clock or press Space to stop your timer and start your opponent's. The clock tracks moves and supports professional time controls including Fischer and Bronstein increment systems.

Turn Timer Mode

The Turn Timer is built for games with more than two players. Choose between per-turn timing (each player gets a fresh countdown every turn) or total time (each player has a fixed pool of time for the entire game). Players who run out of time are automatically eliminated, and the game continues with the remaining players.

How to Use Game Timer

Getting Started

Choose a mode

Select Chess Clock (2 players) or Turn Timer (2-8 players)

Pick a preset

Choose from predefined time settings or configure custom timing

Press Start

Enter the game screen and begin playing

Using Chess Clock

Start the Game

Press the Play button, tap a clock face, or press Space to start

Active Player Countdown

The active player's clock counts down with a highlighted border

Switch Turns

When you finish your move, tap your clock face, click the Switch button, or press Space

Automatic Transition

Your opponent's clock starts automatically

Game End

The game ends when a player's time reaches zero

Using Turn Timer

Configure Players

Set the number of players (2-8) and optionally enter player names

Select Timer Mode

Choose Per Turn (timer resets each turn) or Total (fixed time pool)

Begin Game

Press Start, then click Next Turn or press Space to begin

Advance Turns

Click Next Turn after each player's move to advance to the next player

Elimination (Total Mode)

In Total mode, players who run out of time are eliminated automatically

Keyboard Shortcuts

Space

Start / Switch

Start the timer or switch to the next turn

P

Pause / Resume

Pause or resume the timer

R

Reset

Reset the game to its initial state

Chess Clock Presets

Category	Time Settings	Description
Bullet	1+0 2+1	Fast-paced games under 3 minutes
Blitz	3+0 3+2 5+0 5+3	Quick games of 3-5 minutes
Rapid	10+0 10+5 15+10 30+0	Longer games with more thinking time
Classical	60+30	Tournament-style with generous time

Time Notation: The notation X+Y means X minutes per player with Y seconds increment per move.

Features

Time Control Systems

The Chess Clock supports four professional time control systems:

Fischer

Adds a fixed increment to your clock after every move. If you have a 5+3 setting, you receive 3 extra seconds after each move regardless of how long you took

Bronstein

Adds back the time you actually used on your move, up to the increment limit. If you moved in 2 seconds with a 3-second increment, you only get 2 seconds back

Simple

Pure countdown with no increment. Your clock only runs down

Hourglass

Basic countdown timer without bonus time

Turn Timer Modes

Per Turn

Fresh Timer Each Turn

Each player gets a fresh timer every turn. Great for games where each decision should take roughly the same time

Timer resets after each turn
Equal time per decision
No player elimination

Total Time

Fixed Time Pool

Each player has a fixed pool of time for the entire game. Spend more time on critical moves and less on easy ones. Players who run out are eliminated

Shared time across all turns
Strategic time management
Automatic elimination when time runs out

Visual Feedback

Active player highlight — Clear visual indicator of whose turn it is
Warning state — Clock turns yellow when 30 seconds or less remain
Danger state — Clock turns red with a pulsing animation when 10 seconds or less remain
Precise countdown — Shows tenths of a second when under 20 seconds
Move counter — Tracks the number of moves each player has made

Player Customization

Multi-Player Support

Support for 2 to 8 players in Turn Timer mode

Custom Names

Custom player names for easy identification

Color Coding

Color-coded players with unique dot indicators

Audio & Haptics

Click Sound

Tactile audio feedback on turn switches

Alarm Sound

Alert when a player's time runs out

Vibration

Haptic feedback on mobile devices

Toggle Controls

Sound can be toggled on or off from the setup screen

Mobile-Friendly Design

On mobile devices, the Chess Clock displays vertically with the opponent's clock rotated 180 degrees at the top of the screen. This lets two players sit across from each other and each read their own clock naturally, just like a real chess clock on a table.

Optimized Experience: The mobile layout mimics physical chess clocks, allowing players to sit face-to-face with their clocks oriented correctly for natural reading.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Fischer and Bronstein increment?

Fischer adds a fixed amount of time after every move, regardless of how long the move took. Bronstein only adds back the time you actually used, capped at the increment value.

Example with 3-second increment:

If you move in 1 second: Fischer gives you +3s, Bronstein gives you +1s
If you move in 5 seconds: Both give +3s (capped at increment)

What does the notation "5+3" mean?

The first number is the total time in minutes per player, and the second is the increment in seconds per move. So "5+3" means:

5 minutes per player
3 seconds added after each move (in Fischer mode)

Can I use this for games other than chess?

Yes. While the Chess Clock mode uses chess terminology, it works for any two-player game. The Turn Timer mode is specifically designed for multi-player board games, card games, debates, and any activity where players take turns.

What happens when a player runs out of time in Turn Timer?

In Total Time mode, the player is eliminated and their turns are skipped. The game continues with the remaining players until only one is left.

In Per Turn mode, the timer resets each turn so players cannot be permanently eliminated.

Why does the clock show decimals sometimes?

When a player has less than 20 seconds remaining, the clock switches to a more precise display showing tenths of a second (e.g., 0:15.3). This helps players see exactly how much time they have left during critical moments.

Does this work offline?

Yes. All timing and sound effects are generated locally in your browser. No internet connection is needed once the page has loaded.

Fully Offline: Game Timer works completely offline after initial page load.

Can I customize the time settings?

Yes. Click the Custom button on the setup screen to set your own minutes, seconds, and increment values. For Turn Timer, you can also set the number of players and choose between per-turn or total time modes.