I like playing 15/10 the best. I feel like I have enough time to make decent choices and the game doesn't run too long. I never had any issues getting matched with anyone using this time control. My next choice would be 30 min to allow for plenty of time for self analysis prior to moving.
Normal Standard time control for casual players?
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Dec 10, 2019
0
#3
Thank you for your response robmo. That is exactly the type of feedback I was looking for. I have been playing game 30; but have been finding myself under time pressure in the endgame. I will give 15/10 a try.
If you're feeling time pressure at a 30 min time control, you may find there is more pressure with 15/10 as it is a shorter time control. You can setup your own time controls but I have had rare success in getting matched. If you need more time, you might consider setting up a daily chess match. You can use 1-day, 3-day and 7-day controls. This will give you plenty of time for personal board analysis and far less pressure from time remaining.
Dec 10, 2019
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#5
Oh yeah; I have been playing the daily (3day) time control regularly with several friends. That is a very comfortable pace. I was looking to mix it up with some "Live Chess" games. I don't play the variants or speed chess. I'm an old club player that is happily stuck in the "Standard" time zone. Just wasn't sure if there was a "typical" standard control. I'll play around with different time controls to see who bites on which ones. I appreciate your input. Be well.
My rating is so low that I tend to use longer time controls. I need to learn the game better to be successful at any time control lower than 15 min. I almost always lose to time when I use controls under 15 min.
Thanks for the link!
Dec 10, 2019
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#8
Actually, a15/10 time control may result in a longer game then a a straight 30 mins. This is because of the 10 se. increment. If you make any move under 10 sec.s you will gain time on your clock. A 30min game can not last longer than 59mins 59 seconds.
Dec 12, 2019
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#10
deaf_blue_bottles wrote:
Long thinks may happen in the endgame too, but before that come the long thinks in the middlegame. Since the 15|10 time is more evenly distributed, even if the game lasted 90 moves (the required amount for the time controls to be equal) you'd be shorter of time in the middlegame.
But a simpler observation is that most games don't last 90 moves (more like 35) so in practice 15|10 is a shorter time control.
I am going to agree with @aglitatta on this one (also note that "may result in a longer game" was said). I know what you are trying to say @deaf_blue_bottles but "in practice" it really depends on the players' tendencies; I know some players (strong ones too) that could probably survive 30 minutes on just the 10 second increment alone if they wanted to do so.
Detailed semantics aside, 15 minutes per side is a rough estimate to how long most "casual" over-the-board (OTB/in-person) games last among friends just playing the game. Online (at least on chess.com), the most common time control is 10 minute games. A small difference, but probably attributed to the fact that in person: players are more likely to be social and get up from the table or sip some coffee and so on. It is just casual and for fun, so time isn't really as important in a non-competitive setting; some players treat online a bit too seriously and probably play a bit quicker with focus and fewer distractions - hence one reason for the average taking slightly less time.
At least this is my humble opinion on the matter 
I prefer "Standard" time controls. What is the most common standard time control to request for casual play?