Seconds in Chess: assistants and time units

Seconds

Definition

In chess, “seconds” has two common meanings:

• Assistants/analysts: A “second” is a supporting player or coach who helps a competitor prepare for games and events. A top grandmaster might have a “team of seconds” handling opening analysis, engine work, training games, and psychological support.
• Units of time: “Seconds” are the base unit on the chess clock. Time controls, delays, and increments are often specified in seconds (e.g., a 3+2 blitz game adds 2 seconds per move).

Usage

How the term appears in practice:

• As assistants: “She traveled to the Candidates with two seconds,” or “to second a player” (to serve as their analytical assistant).
• As time: “He flagged with two seconds left,” “5-second delay,” “+30 seconds increment from move 1,” or “time scramble” when both sides have only seconds remaining.
• Typical notations: “90+30” (90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move), “3+2” (3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move). See also increment and delay.

Strategic and Historical Significance

Seconds (assistants) are integral at elite level. They help build opening repertoires, craft novelties, stress-test lines with engines and databases, play training games, and simulate opponents’ likely choices. Their work can shape entire match strategies. Preparations are kept confidential; teams often sign NDAs and sequester during world championships.

Historically, many title matches turned on preparation by seconds. The modern engine era has amplified their role: managing hardware, openings trees, and cloud analysis is a specialized craft. Some famous figures have seconded multiple world champions, and a few former seconds later became world champions themselves.

Seconds (time) matter for technique and practical play. Increments of just a few seconds per move change endgame outcomes (e.g., a +30 seconds increment allows methodical conversion of long technical endings). US events often use delays (e.g., 5-second delay) where the first seconds at each move don’t reduce your remaining time, influencing flag-fight tactics. See time scramble and flag.

Examples

Example A — The “Berlin Wall” and team prep: In the 2000 World Championship (Kramnik vs. Kasparov, London), deep home preparation—supported by Kramnik’s team of seconds—revived the Berlin Defense of the Ruy Lopez to neutralize Kasparov’s 1. e4. The famous endgame can arise after:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8

This preparation set the match’s strategic tone and is a classic example of seconds shaping high-stakes outcomes. See also Berlin Defense.

Example B — Increments vs. time trouble: In a 3+2 blitz game, even with 5–10 seconds left, the 2-second increment per move allows you to “stabilize” in winning endgames like king and rook vs. king. Without increment (e.g., 5+0), the same position can be practically impossible to finish against quick defense.

Example C — Prepared novelty in a sharp opening: In the Poisoned Pawn Variation of the Najdorf, seconds often hunt for deep novelties to surprise opponents: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6, hitting b2. A novelty twenty moves later can decide the game if the opponent is out-prepared.

Such ideas are classic “seconds’ work,” blending targeted database prep with engine-assisted calculation. See Poisoned Pawn.

Interesting Facts and Anecdotes

• From corners to chessboards: The term “second” comes from combat sports (your “second” in the corner). Chess adopted it for analytical assistants during matches.
• Second today, champion tomorrow: Vladimir Kramnik served as a second for Garry Kasparov (e.g., WC 1995) before defeating him for the title in 2000.
• Crossing camps: Peter Heine Nielsen famously seconded Viswanathan Anand during his championship reign and later joined Magnus Carlsen’s team.
• Fischer’s legacy in seconds: Bobby Fischer popularized the “Fischer increment,” adding a set number of seconds to your clock after every move—now standard in FIDE events.
• Strict boundaries: While seconds are vital before and after games, any outside assistance during play is strictly forbidden in OTB and online chess under fair-play rules.

Practical Advice

• If you’re building a team: Define roles (opening prep, endgames, opponent profiling), share a common database, and run structured training games that mirror expected openings.
• For time management: Know your event’s time rules. With increments, play solid, fast moves to “rebuild” seconds; with delay, start moving within the delay window to avoid losing time; without increment/delay, avoid complications when down to mere seconds.