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What is lag in live chess?

Learn what lag is, how lag forgiveness works, and how to check connection strength to keep your chess games running smoothly.

Updated over 2 weeks ago

Lag in chess

Lag refers to the delay (latency) between your device and the game server. When latency is high, you may notice delays during gameplay, such as moves taking longer to appear or brief interruptions in your match.

More lag means it takes longer for your moves to reach the server, which can make it seem like you are moving more slowly. This might cause delayed moves, irregularities in the game clock, or, in severe cases, disconnections.

Lag forgiveness

Lag typically doesn’t have much impact in longer games like standard chess, but it can make a big difference in fast time controls like blitz or bullet. To keep things fair, Chess.com’s game timer accounts for lag when calculating how much time you actually used for a move.

The system automatically compensates for some lag, up to a set limit. If you notice your opponent’s clock occasionally gaining a second or two after their move, it means they have a poor connection and the system is compensating for their delay.

Check out this article to learn more about lag forgiveness: What is lag forgiveness? (Why did the clocks suddenly change?)

How can I check my connection strenght?

Next to each player’s name, you’ll see a set of bars that indicate the strength of their connection:

Connection status

Details

Excellent

connection

Very low lag — has full bars.

User with excellent connection on Chess.com

OK

Connection

Some lag — has one or two bars.

User with OK connection on Chess.com

Poor

Connection

High lag — has one bar.

User with poor connection on Chess.com

Disconnected

If the bar turns RED and the clock is flashng, that means you are disconnected!

User disconnected from Chess.com

Check out this article for suggestions on how to fix lag issues: How do I fix my disconnect/lag issues?

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