Classical · 30 min, 5s delay/move

30 d5 Chess Clock

Thirty minutes each with a five-second simple delay per move — the USCF action chess standard and delay equivalent of G/30.

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About the 30 d5 time control

G/30 with a five-second delay is a US Chess staple. The delay holds the clock for five seconds at the start of each move; only time beyond that burns against your thirty minutes. Simple plays — king centralization, piece shuffles, obvious recaptures — cost nothing in time.

Unlike 30+0 pure sudden death, the delay gives both sides a small safety net, keeping the endgame fairer without extending the total game length significantly. It remains a base-time game — time only goes down, never up — so managing your thirty minutes thoughtfully still matters.

In short: 30 minutes per player with 5 second delay, in the classical range. Tap below to start it now, or read more about how the time-control tiers compare.

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Frequently asked

What does G/30 d5 mean?

Game in 30 with a 5-second delay: thirty minutes each for the whole game, with a five-second pause before the clock starts counting on each move.

Is 30 d5 classical or rapid?

By FIDE rules 30 minutes per player is on the classical threshold, but many federations rate G/30 as rapid regardless. USCF typically rates it as classical action chess.

Other classical controls

30+060+3090+30 All classical Compare time controls