Quick Guide

How to Use Tickmate

01

Place your phone between players

Put the device flat on the table so both players can easily reach their side. Tickmate is designed for face-to-face play — no need to hold it or pass it around.

02

Choose your time control

Pick one of the presets (Bullet, Blitz, Rapid) or enter custom minutes + increment.

Choose the clock mode:

  • Fischer +inc — most common (adds time after each move)
  • Bronstein Delay — delay starts counting down before your time decreases
  • No Increment — pure countdown
Tip: Tap a preset button — it auto-fills the custom fields. Change them anytime before starting.
03

Rotate your timer for comfortable reading

Each player has two small buttons in their corner:

  • ↕ Flip — turns your timer upside-down (180°)
  • ↻ Rotate — rotates 90° (useful in portrait/landscape)

Only your side rotates — the opponent’s display stays normal for them. Adjust until both can read their time clearly without tilting the phone.

04

Start the game

Tap Start Game at the bottom.

Then tap your side to start your opponent’s clock (just like a real chess clock).

After each move: tap your own zone to switch the clock.

First tap after starting begins the game and starts the opponent’s clock — standard chess clock behavior.
05

During play: controls & feedback

Center buttons:

  • ⏸ Pause — stops both clocks
  • ✕ New Game — back to setup
  • 🔊 Toggle sound (clicks, low-time beeps, flag-fall buzzer)

You’ll also feel a short vibration on each clock switch (if your phone supports it).

06

When time runs out

The player who reaches 0:00 loses on time.

From the game-over screen you can:

  • Rematch — same settings, new game
  • New Game — back to time control selection
Bonus

Keyboard shortcuts (desktop / laptop)

  • Space — switch clock (like tapping your side)
  • P — pause/resume
  • R — restart (when paused)

Perfect for club nights or when using a bigger screen.