---
title: "Delay in chess"
url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/delay.md"
canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/delay"
last_updated: "2026-11-07"
type: "reference"
summary: "A delay is a pause at the start of each turn before a clock begins counting down, so a player can use that short time without losing any from the main clock."
related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/increment.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-control.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-scramble.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-management.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/classical-chess.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/flagging.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/time-controls.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"]
---

# Delay in chess

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A delay is a pause at the start of each turn before a clock begins counting down, so a player can use that short time without losing any from the main clock.

A delay is a pause at the start of each turn before a clock begins counting down, so a player can use that short time without losing any from the main clock.

With a delay, a few seconds are held back at the start of every move before your main time begins to run. If you move within the delay, nothing is taken from your clock. If you take longer, only the time beyond the delay is used.

It sounds similar to an [increment](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/increment.md), but the effect differs. With an increment, unused seconds are added to your clock, so you can build up a time bank. With a delay, unused seconds are simply lost. This means you can never gain time with a delay, only avoid losing it. There is also a variation called a Bronstein delay, where the time you used on a move, up to the delay amount, is given back to you.

Delays are common on digital clocks used in over the board events, especially in the United States. Check which one is used in your tournament, because it changes how you manage the end of the game. In either case, practice playing quickly and safely when time is short.

Also called: Bronstein delay.

It sits close to [Time scramble](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-scramble.md). A time scramble is the stage of a game when one or both players are very short of time and must play many moves quickly, often leading to mistakes and sudden reversals.

Time controls change what a player should practice, and the [improvement plans by rating band](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) show how the habits behind "Delay" differ across rating ranges.

## Related terms

- [Increment](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/increment.md)
- [Time control](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-control.md)
- [Time scramble](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-scramble.md)
- [Time management](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-management.md)
- [Classical chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/classical-chess.md)
- [Flagging](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/flagging.md)

## Guides that go further

- [Chess time control calculator](https://georgelichess.com/tools/time-control-calculator.md): See whether a base time and increment counts as bullet, blitz, rapid or classical.
- [Average chess rating and a good chess rating](https://georgelichess.com/chess-rating-percentiles.md): What share of active Lichess players are rated above 800, 1200, 1500, 1800 or 2000, by time control.
- [Chess ratings explained](https://georgelichess.com/chess-ratings-explained.md): What a rating measures, how FIDE, Lichess, US Chess and chess.com compute theirs, and why the numbers differ.

[Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com.

## Related

- [Increment in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/increment.md)
- [Time control in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-control.md)
- [Time scramble in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-scramble.md)
- [Time management in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-management.md)
- [Classical chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/classical-chess.md)
- [Flagging in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/flagging.md)
- [Chess terms: Time controls and formats](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/time-controls.md)
- [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)