Master · Unit 3 · Tournament Preparation

Time management at the board

Protect your clock with the same care you give your king.

Step 1 of 3

Concept

Time management at the board

Spend 90% of your time on the 10% of moves that matter: structure changes, key trades, king safety, transitions. Move fast on the routine ones. Stuck for five minutes? Play your best guess and bank the clock.

Remember

• Ninety percent of time on ten percent of moves: the critical junctures.
• Routine moves (known theory, obvious recaptures): fifteen to thirty seconds.
• Critical moves (structure change, key trade, king safety): up to ten minutes or more.
• After five minutes stuck: play your best guess, save the clock for later.