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Ratings & formats

Increment

Time added to your clock after each move, so you are not flagged with a winning position.

A time control like 3+2 means three minutes each plus two seconds added per move. The increment rewards playing on and makes it possible to convert (or defend) long endgames without simply losing on time.

A related idea, delay, waits a few seconds before your main clock starts ticking rather than adding time.

Why it matters

Increment changes how you manage the clock and whether long technical endgames are even playable.

The mistake everyone makes

Playing as if there is no increment and burning your whole clock early, then having nothing for the critical moment.

Related terms

Bullet, blitz, rapid, classical
The time-control categories, from a minute a side (bullet) to hours (classical).
Elo rating
A number measuring playing strength; you gain points for beating higher-rated players and lose them for losing to lower-rated ones.
King activity
In the endgame the king becomes a strong piece and should march toward the action.

See Increment in your own games

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