Read the control in order
A notation such as 10+5 means ten starting minutes plus five seconds added after each completed move. A staged control may add time after a specified move number. Delay is not the same as increment: delay protects an initial portion of each move before the main time decreases.
Source for the factual guidance above: FIDE Laws of Chess.
Program both sides
Unless an event specifies otherwise, both players receive the same settings. On ChessClock.now the custom drawer exposes starting time, bonus type and bonus seconds together. Hardware clocks often use a numbered mode; keep the manual nearby because mode numbers are not standardized between brands.
Run a two-press test
Start one side, let several seconds pass, press, and check that the expected increment or delay appears. Reset only after both players agree. Also check sound, orientation and screen brightness so neither player is surprised mid-game.
Worked setup: 15+10
For 15+10, give each player fifteen starting minutes and select increment as the bonus type. Enter ten bonus seconds, confirm that both sides show 15:00, and start one timer. Let it fall to about 14:55, then press. The stopped side should show about 15:05 because ten seconds were added after the move. Repeat from the other side. If the display instead waits before counting down, the clock is probably using delay. If no time appears, the bonus may be disabled or entered in the wrong field.
Worked setup: 5-minute delay
A control with five minutes and a two-second simple delay starts each turn with a protected two-second window. The main bank should remain at 5:00 for a move completed inside that window; unused delay does not become extra main time. Test a quick press and then a slower move that exceeds two seconds. The second test should reduce the main bank only by the time beyond the delay. Because hardware displays represent delay differently, verify behavior rather than relying on where a small number appears on the screen.
A setup checklist for real play
Read the published control aloud, translate every unit, and identify the bonus method before touching the clock. Program both sides, verify the starting bank, test at least two presses, and reset. Then check the active-side marker, move counter behavior, sound setting, screen angle, battery warning, and physical stability. For a staged control, confirm what happens at the move threshold and whether the clock adds time automatically. Keep the written control available until the game begins. A correct-looking starting display does not prove that the bonus or later stage is programmed correctly.
If the bonus setting is unclear, compare increment and delay on a chess clock.
Common questions
Why test more than one press?
The starting display confirms only the base time. Two or more presses reveal whether the selected bonus appears on both sides and whether increment, delay, or a move counter behaves as expected.
What if both players need different starting times?
Use independent side settings only when the game or exercise calls for a handicap. Verify each side separately and say the arrangement aloud so the difference is intentional rather than a setup mistake.
Primary references & further reading
Rules and browser capabilities can change. These links are provided for the current governing or technical source.