---
title: "Premove in chess"
url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/premove.md"
canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/premove"
last_updated: "2026-11-07"
type: "reference"
summary: "A premove is a move entered on an online board before the opponent has replied. This saves the time it takes to move the piece with your mouse."
related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bullet-chess.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/hyperbullet.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blitz-chess.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-scramble.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blunder-check.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-control.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/time-controls.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"]
---

# Premove in chess

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A premove is a move entered on an online board before the opponent has replied. This saves the time it takes to move the piece with your mouse.

A premove is a move entered on an online board before the opponent has replied, which is played automatically as soon as it becomes your turn if it is still legal.

On many online chess sites, you can select a move while it is still your opponent's turn. The site stores it and plays it instantly once your opponent has moved, provided the move is still legal. This saves the time it takes to move the piece with your mouse.

Premoves matter most in very fast games like [bullet](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bullet-chess.md), where they can save seconds in obvious situations, such as recapturing a piece or advancing a pawn in a won [endgame](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/endgame.md). They are not allowed over the board, since there you must wait for your opponent to move and then make your move by hand.

The danger is that a premove does not know what your opponent will actually do. If the situation changes, your stored move may be a [blunder](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blunder.md). A good rule is to use premoves only when the reply is forced or the outcome is safe whatever your opponent plays. Newer players should leave the feature unused at first and learn to check every move carefully.

Also called: premoves.

Also worth reading is [Hyperbullet](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/hyperbullet.md). Hyperbullet is an extremely fast online format with only a few seconds, often fifteen or thirty, for the whole game, where reflexes and premoves matter more than thought.

Also worth reading is [Blitz chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blitz-chess.md). Blitz chess is a fast format where each player has about three to ten minutes for the whole game, so decisions rely heavily on pattern recognition and quick tactics.

If "Premove" is the format you play most, the [improvement plans by rating band](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) give a weekly routine for your rating range.

## Related terms

- [Bullet chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bullet-chess.md)
- [Hyperbullet](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/hyperbullet.md)
- [Blitz chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blitz-chess.md)
- [Time scramble](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-scramble.md)
- [Blunder check](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blunder-check.md)
- [Time control](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-control.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

- [Bullet chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bullet-chess.md)
- [Hyperbullet in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/hyperbullet.md)
- [Blitz chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blitz-chess.md)
- [Time scramble in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-scramble.md)
- [Blunder check in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/blunder-check.md)
- [Time control in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/time-control.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)