The Ultimate 4-Step Guide To Enabling And Mastering Premoves On Chess.com In 2025
Are you tired of losing on time in close bullet or blitz games? The secret weapon of every high-rated online chess player is the 'premove' feature, a setting that allows you to queue up your next move while your opponent is still thinking. As of December 22, 2025, Chess.com’s settings remain the essential key to gaining a critical time advantage, often deciding the outcome of a game when the clock is ticking down to zero. This guide provides the most current, step-by-step instructions for enabling premoves on both the desktop website and the mobile app, along with advanced strategies to turn this feature into a decisive tool in your arsenal.
A premove is a move you make on the board before your opponent has completed their turn. If your opponent's move makes your queued move legal, the move is executed almost instantly, consuming a mere 0.1 seconds of your remaining time. This fraction of a second is invaluable in fast time controls, turning what would be a loss into a win. Knowing exactly how to activate this feature is the first step to becoming a time-scramble master.
The Critical Advantage: What Are Chess.com Premoves?
The premove feature is an indispensable tool for anyone serious about competitive online chess, especially in rapid, blitz, and bullet formats. It's essentially a mechanic designed to reward quick thinking and anticipation.
How Premoves Work and Their Time Benefit
- Near-Instant Execution: Once your opponent moves, your premove is processed and executed in approximately 0.1 seconds. This is significantly faster than the human reaction time, which often hovers around 0.2 to 0.3 seconds, plus the time it takes to physically click and drag a piece.
- Time Savings: Over the course of a 60-move game, the cumulative time saved by premoving can be substantial, often amounting to several seconds—a lifetime in bullet chess (1-minute games).
- Illegal Premoves: If your opponent’s move renders your premove illegal (e.g., they block a check you were trying to respond to, or they capture the piece you were planning to move), the premove is simply canceled, and you lose no time.
- Multiple Premoves (App Feature): On the Chess.com mobile application, you can often enable "Multiple Premoves," allowing you to queue up a sequence of moves (like a forced checkmate line) for even greater time efficiency.
Entities and Keywords: Bullet Chess, Blitz Chess, Time Scramble, Online Chess Mechanics, Time Advantage, Forced Sequence, Reaction Time, Mobile Application, Web Browser.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Enable Premoves on Chess.com (Web & App)
The process for activating premoves is slightly different depending on whether you are using the desktop website or the mobile application. Follow the instructions for your preferred platform to ensure the feature is correctly enabled.
Enabling Premoves on the Chess.com Desktop Website (PC/Mac)
This is the most common method for serious players and is straightforward to set up:
- Navigate to Settings: Log in to your Chess.com account. On the left-hand sidebar, hover your mouse over the 'Settings' icon (it looks like a gear or cog).
- Access All Settings: Click on 'All Settings' from the menu that appears.
- Select Gameplay: In the 'Settings' menu on the left, click on the 'Gameplay' option.
- Toggle the Premove Switch: Look for the setting labeled 'Premove' or 'Enable Premoves.' Ensure the toggle switch is set to the 'On' or 'Enabled' position (it is typically green or blue).
- Save Changes: Although Chess.com often saves settings automatically, it's a good practice to ensure any 'Save' or 'Apply' button is clicked if visible.
Enabling Premoves on the Chess.com Mobile App (iOS/Android)
The mobile app settings are often buried deeper, but the process is simple once you know the path:
- Open the 'More' Menu: Launch the Chess.com app and tap the 'More' icon, usually located in the bottom right corner.
- Go to Settings: Tap on 'Settings' within the 'More' menu.
- Find the Play Section: Scroll down and look for a section or tab labeled 'Play' or 'Game Settings.'
- Adjust Live Games Settings: Tap on 'Live Games.'
- Set Premove Option: Find the 'Premove' option. It may offer a dropdown menu with options like 'Disabled,' 'Single Premove,' or 'Multiple Premoves.' For maximum advantage, select 'Multiple Premoves.'
- Confirm: The app usually saves the setting immediately upon selection.
Mastering the Clock: Advanced Premove Strategy and Tips
Enabling the feature is only the first step; using it effectively separates the masters from the novices. A poorly executed premove can lead to a blunder, but a well-timed one is a guaranteed time-saver.
When to Use Premoves Aggressively
The primary goal of a premove is to save time, making it most valuable in time-critical situations.
- Forced Sequences: This is the safest and most effective use. When you see a forced checkmate or a sequence of captures where your opponent has only one legal response, premove the entire line. The moment your opponent moves, the sequence plays out instantly.
- Obvious Captures: If your opponent captures a piece, and you have an immediate, obvious recapture that improves your position or maintains material equality, premove the recapture.
- Time Scrambles: In the final seconds of a game, premoving is often the only way to avoid losing on time. Focus on simple, safe moves like pawn pushes or rook/queen checks.
When to AVOID Premoves
Using a premove in a complex position can be disastrous, leading to a game-losing blunder.
- Critical Decisions: Never premove when your opponent has multiple good responses, or when your move depends on their specific choice. Wait for their move, re-evaluate, and then move.
- Tactical Positions: In positions with complex tactics, checks, or threats, a premove might overlook a crucial defensive or offensive resource, instantly losing material or the game.
- Opponent's Blunders: If your opponent blunders and hangs a piece, resist the urge to premove a simple move. Wait, confirm the blunder, and execute the best move to capitalize on the error.
Entities and Keywords: Forced Checkmate, Material Advantage, Tactical Blunder, Time Pressure, Pawn Push, Defensive Resource, Game Theory, Strategic Advantage, Online Rating, Chess Engine Analysis.
Troubleshooting: Why Are My Premoves Not Working?
It’s a common frustration: you know you enabled the setting, but your premoves are not executing. This often comes down to a few simple technical or user errors.
1. The Move Was Illegal: The most frequent reason a premove fails is that the opponent's move made your queued move illegal. For example, you premove a check, but your opponent blocks the line of attack. The premove is canceled, and you must make a new move.
2. Browser/App Glitch: Sometimes, a temporary software glitch prevents the setting from registering. This is particularly common after a site update or a long session.
- Fix: Close your browser or completely quit the mobile app. Re-open Chess.com, go back to the settings menu, disable the premove feature, save, and then re-enable it and save again. This forces the system to refresh the setting.
3. Incorrect App Setting: If you are on the mobile app, you might have the setting enabled but only for 'Single Premove.' If you try to queue a second move, it will fail.
- Fix: Follow the mobile instructions above and ensure the setting is explicitly set to 'Multiple Premoves' under the 'Live Games' section.
4. Connectivity Issues: A weak or unstable internet connection can sometimes cause the premove signal to be delayed or dropped entirely, even if the setting is correct. While the premove is processed server-side, a poor connection can affect the initial input.
- Fix: Check your Wi-Fi or cellular data connection. Try restarting your router or switching to a more stable network.
Entities and Keywords: Connectivity Issues, Server-Side Processing, Technical Glitch, Browser Cache, Mobile Data, Illegal Move, User Interface (UI), Settings Refresh.
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