Chess Match Scoring and Time Controls
Chess has only three possible results, and the half point for a draw is what makes tournament standings so tight.
The three results
| Result | Score |
|---|---|
| Win | 1 |
| Draw | ½ |
| Loss | 0 |
The ways a game is drawn
- Stalemate — the side to move has no legal move and is not in check.
- Threefold repetition of the same position.
- Fifty moves with no capture and no pawn move.
- Insufficient material — king versus king, for instance.
- Agreement between the players.
Time controls
| Format | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Bullet | Under 3 minutes each |
| Blitz | 3–10 min |
| Rapid | 10–60 min |
| Classical | 60 min and above |
Tie-breaks in tournaments
When players finish level, the most common tie-break is Buchholz — the sum of your opponents' scores — on the reasoning that beating a strong field is worth more. Direct encounter and number of wins are also used.
Frequently asked questions
Seconds added to your clock after each move. A 3+2 game gives three minutes plus two seconds per move, which stops games being decided purely on flag falls.
The opponent — unless they have insufficient material to deliver checkmate, in which case the game is drawn.