A time control is part of the game agreement, not a detail to settle after the first move. In 1Chess Clock, start in Game settings and decide whether a common preset fits the game or whether you need to enter a custom control. The app then returns you to a two-player clock, where both players can check the setup before play begins. For a quick introduction to the screen and turn switching, read how to get started with 1Chess Clock.
Start with the game you actually plan to play
Choose the starting time that both players have agreed. A short control suits a practice game or a blitz session; a longer control gives more room for a club game, coaching session, or analysis exercise. Do not choose a label just because it sounds familiar. What matters for the clock is the amount of time and any extra rule attached to each move.
Presets are useful when they match your regular games. For a one-off format, use the settings screen to make the numbers explicit. If the players have different starting times, check both panels separately before you leave settings. It is much easier to correct a mismatch while the clock is stopped than to reconstruct the intended control later.
Decide whether every move changes the clock
A plain countdown reduces the selected time until a player taps their side. Fischer increment adds a fixed amount after a completed move; use the Fischer increment setup guide when that is the rule you need. Bronstein and simple delay behave differently, so agree on the tournament or club wording rather than treating all “delay” controls as interchangeable.
For any of these formats, run two or three practice moves after configuring the control. Watch the active side, press the same large panel players will use at the board, and make sure the displayed behavior matches the agreement. This is particularly valuable when you are changing from a standard countdown to increment or delay.
Confirm the final setup at the board
Place the phone where each player can reach it, then read the visible time and mode together. Start only after both players agree. If a game is interrupted, use the app’s pause and reset controls deliberately rather than editing time settings mid-game; the pause and reset guide explains that workflow.
Making this check part of setup keeps the clock predictable. It also gives a coach, arbiter, or club organiser a clear moment to confirm the format before the result depends on it.