We have thousands of students at ChessGoals. One of the most common questions we get is how to avoid time trouble.

Let’s start by working backwards.

What causes us to get low on the clock?

1. No clear plan for time usage
2. Overthinking “easy” positions
3. Panic and rushing in critical moments
4. Underestimating our opponent’s time usage.

With just a few adjustments, we can turn the clock into an asset instead of a liability.

Tip #1: Time Budget

Think of your time as a budget. Don’t spend it all too early.

Know your format, and how quickly you must move given the format. For example: a 15+10 game gives you 22 seconds per move, for an average game.

Break the game into it’s 3 segments.

Opening: Move quickly and use your preparation. Aim to win the clock battle in the opening.

Middlegame: This is your main time investment. But we need to be selective on individual moves.

Endgame: Be precise, but do not run out of time.

Tip #2: Identify Critical Moves

Spend time where it matters most.

Critical moments:

1. The end of the opening. This should be your first real think of the game as we transition to the middle game.
2. Tactical opportunities. Not just for you, but for your opponent as well. If a tactic to win a pawn or piece presents itself, it’s worth it to invest time to capitalize on a game-winning advantage.
3. Change in position. Are you sacrificing a pawn? Or trading down into an endgame? Take the extra time to ensure these decisions work in your favor.
4. Opponent’s long think. Use their time wisely too.

Tip #3: The “One Last Check” Habit

Make one last check before you make your move. Take a deep breath and calm down.

Ask yourself these questions before moving on:

1. Is my move safe? Do a quick blunder check
2. What is my opponents threat? Am I addressing their threat? Am I walking into a different threat?

Do this after every move, even in time trouble.

Tip #4: Leverage the Increment

The increment is your safety net. Benefits of the increment:

1. Prevents flagging: You won’t lose on time in simple positions
2. Allows early investment in the clock.
3. Final checks: you get extra time with every move, so you’ll always have time to make your final checks.
4. You do not have to rush through simple moves.

Even with just a 10 second increment, you have a minute to make 6 moves. Doesn’t seem too intimidating for us bullet players.

Conclusion

In order to reach your peak rating, you must master the clock. Many games between people of equal skill are decided by the clock. You can improve your rating without actually improving at chess by using the clock wisely. If you apply all four of these tips in your game you will see great improvement.

This post was taken from a YouTube live stream. Watch the full video here: