Fifteen minutes and ten seconds a move
In 15+10, each player starts with 15 minutes, and 10 seconds are added after each move, from the very first one. This is the time control of the FIDE World Rapid Championship. With a generous increment, you always have time for the endgame, and the game rewards real thinking rather than speed.
Under the FIDE Laws of Chess, it is rapid: 15 minutes plus 60 times 10 seconds makes 25 minutes, between the 10 and 60 minutes that define rapid chess.
How long does a 15+10 game last?
| Moves per player | Time added | Total time per player | Whole game, at most |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 5:00 | 20:00 | about 40 minutes |
| 40 | 6:40 | 21:40 | about 45 minutes |
| 60 | 10:00 | 25:00 | about 50 minutes |
Count about 45 minutes per game to plan a club evening or a small tournament with several rounds.
Tips for 15+10
- Take your time in the opening if the position is new to you: the increment gives some of it back.
- Keep a reserve of 3 to 5 minutes for the endgame, and the 10 seconds per move will carry you.
- Check before you move: checks, captures and threats, for both sides. Rapid games are often lost on a simple oversight.
- Pause only when needed: the middle button stops both clocks, for a question or an interruption.
Planning a 15+10 club tournament
With about 45 minutes per game and a few minutes for pairings between rounds, four rounds fit into an afternoon of three and a half hours, and five rounds into a long afternoon. Start each round at a fixed time, and ask players to keep the phone or the clock on the side of the board where the arbiter or the organizer can see it.
For faster games, the 3+2 chess clock is the time control of the World Blitz Championship.