A long game rewards preparation. Set the time control, display, alerts, and phone position before the first move, then leave the settings alone while the players are thinking. This checklist is about preventing avoidable interruptions; it does not promise that a phone can replace event equipment. If the game is part of a tournament, check the organiser guidance for phone clocks first.
Build the setup around the time control
Open Game settings and enter the exact starting time agreed by both players. Decide whether the game uses a plain countdown, Fischer increment, Bronstein delay, or another mode that the app exposes. The time-control setup guide explains why the mode matters. Check both player panels when the starting times are not identical. A five-second test is not enough to discover a wrong base time after a long game has begun.
Save the setting before the pieces are arranged. Then make one practice move on each side and watch what happens when the active player taps their panel. With Fischer, confirm the increment behaviour; with Bronstein, confirm the delay behaviour. If the result does not match the announced format, stop and correct it while the clock is still easy to reset.
Make the display and alerts readable
Choose a display mode and clock theme that both players can read from their sides of the board. Open the sound settings and agree whether move sounds, low-time warnings, haptics, or silence are appropriate for the room. A long game may cross a quiet period, so do not assume that the default alert choice suits a club, library, or home setting. The troubleshooting guide shows what to check when an alert is missing.
Protect the phone from avoidable interruptions
Start with a charged phone and keep it on a stable surface where neither player has to reach across the board. Do not place drinks or scoresheets on top of it. Avoid switching to another app during play. 1Chess Clock pauses an active game when the app becomes inactive; if that happens, return to the clock, verify the active side, and resume deliberately. Use pause for an agreed interruption, not reset. The pause and reset guide explains the difference.
Run a short test before the first move
Read the time and mode aloud, test the hand-over, and agree how to handle an accidental tap or an interruption. Once both players confirm the setup, start the real game.
During a long game
Change settings only after pausing and only when both players agree. If the device, sound, or display becomes unreliable, stop the clock and follow the organiser's procedure rather than improvising a result.