Increment or delay? What your chess clock changes about the game

You have one second on the clock and make a move in half a second. With a three-second Fischer increment, you’ll have about 3½ seconds after pressing the clock. With a three-second delay, you’ll still have one second. The display may look similar at the start of the game, but the two modes reward different habits.

Why the time changes

Increment adds a fixed amount after the move, so quick moves can build time back up. Delay gives you a few seconds before your main time starts running. If you finish within that window, you keep what you had. You can play five fast moves with delay and still be on your original one second.

Check the clock before starting

DGT lists both modes on the DGT1500 GothamChess edition, which runs on one AA battery. It lists one time period. If an event adds another block of time after a set number of moves, compare that requirement with the manual. For a casual game, agree on increment or delay before the first move.