Online timer for 7 minutes
Stay at the table while a player works through a seven-minute turn, keeping an eye on both the game and the remaining time. This limit suits a thoughtful move without letting one round stretch across the evening, whether everyone is gathered indoors during a summer storm or settling in after a weekend barbecue. The player can weigh options, while the others know roughly when play will pass to them.
As each turn ends, begin the next countdown for the following player rather than treating the session as one long block. Repeated runs give everyone the same window and make lengthy strategies easier to contain. If a move finishes early, pass play on and restart from the beginning; unused time does not need to carry into another person’s turn.
While watching a close match, place the signal near the current player and keep its volume low enough for the table. A sharp alert can interrupt conversation in an open-plan Australian home or disturb children nearby after bedtime. Agree beforehand whether the sound marks an immediate stop or allows a player to complete a move already in progress, so the alert settles the turn instead of starting an argument.
Common questions
What if our tabletop turns consistently finish before the set time?
Shorten the next round slightly if everyone is waiting, but keep the same limit for all players. For a mixed-age family game, leaving the original window may be fairer for younger players or anyone learning the rules.
What should happen if a player has not finished when the tabletop countdown sounds?
Use the rule agreed before the round: stop immediately or complete only the move already begun. If several players run over, the game may need a longer shared limit rather than exceptions for individual turns.
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