What counts as bullet?
Bullet is the fastest tier of chess. Under FIDE rules a game is bullet when each player has fewer than 3 minutes for the whole game. Above it sits blitz; there is nothing slower-than-bullet with its own name, because below about a minute the format stops being playable at all.
Why bullet exists
Bullet is a creature of the online era. When the clock switches automatically and you can pre-load moves, a one-minute game becomes not just possible but addictive — you can play dozens in the time a single rapid game would take.
It strips chess down to instinct: there is no time to calculate, so openings, patterns and pure speed decide the result.
What it feels like to play
In bullet you react rather than think. Online play leans heavily on premoves — queuing your reply before your opponent has even moved — and on watching their clock as closely as the board. Flagging, winning because the other clock hit zero, is a normal and legitimate way to win.
Popular bullet time controls
These three cover almost all bullet you’ll meet.
1+0 is the definitive bullet control. 2+1 adds a one-second cushion for slightly fairer endings, and 3+0 sits right on the bullet/blitz line.
Where bullet is played
Bullet lives online. Almost every fast game on a major site is bullet or blitz, and top players stream marathon bullet sessions. Over the board it’s rare — physical clocks are slow to press, so a minute disappears fast.
Is bullet right for you?
Bullet is pure fun, but it’s the worst format for improving — there’s no time to learn from a position. Treat it as a reflex game and do your real learning in rapid. If you’re new, start there and come to bullet for the adrenaline.