Questions tagged [draw]
Questions relating to drawing in chess
202
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Does 'dead position' consider the 75 moves rule?
In 5.2.2 of the FIDE laws it says:
The game is drawn when a position has arisen in which neither player can checkmate the opponent’s king with any series of legal moves. The game is said to end in a ‘...
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Why does stockfish give "-28.8" as the evaluation number for this position?
[FEN "5K2/8/5k2/5b2/6b1/5b1b/4b1b1/7b w - - 0 1"]
This game is an immediate draw by insufficient material (Doesn't Stockfish know this?). I am wondering what the reason behind the score &...
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Why doesn't Stockfish announce when it solved a position as a book draw similar to how it announces a forced mate?
I notice that when Stockfish has solved a position to mate it announces that checkmate is unavoidable in some number of moves so it's impossible to mistaken a position Stockfish has solved as a win ...
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2
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Is contempt factor used as a way to make engine games more interesting?
Chess is believed to be a theoretical draw. So top chess engines, which are not too far off from theoretical optimum, tend to reach drawn positions, which are not too exciting.
My understanding is ...
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Is there a position where the weaker side can force stalemating the stronger side?
Usually, the (materially) stronger side stalemates the materially weaker side. Is there a position where the weaker side can forcibly stalemate the stronger side?
The only position I know where this ...
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2
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What is "mating potential" in the FIDE Arbiter's Manual meant to mean?
While researching an answer for another SE.chess question (Has a position being a draw under FIDE 5.2.b before a forced recapture ever come up in a tournament?), I stumbled across the following issue.
...
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14
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2
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A specific draw etiquette
In one of my last games, I offered a draw. Now for what the rules don't say...
He had quite to chew on the offer. Half an hour he was sitting and pondered whether he could risk to play to win. I, on ...
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Is this an incorrect draw by chess.com?
Is this an incorrect draw by chess.com?
I just played a game on chess.com with the final position as below (I am black):
[FEN "8/8/2b5/7P/8/2k1N3/5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 59"]
My opponent's time ...
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7
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1
answer
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Can White win this middle game?
I played a game that ended with a draw and this is the end position:
[FEN ""]
[startply "119"]
1. e4 f6 2. d4 d6 3. c4 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. f4 Nd7 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 Qc7 8. Bd3 a6 9. a3 ...
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What is the most number of repetitions in a GM game?
In July 2014 FIDE introduced new rules regarding draws. The arbiter was required to step in and declare the game drawn in cases where the players repeated the position 5 times:
9.6 If one or both of ...
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3
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2
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Why is it a draw after check from pawn promotion?
I've been playing against Stockfish, and sometimes I promote a pawn to a piece that immediately puts the opposing king (the only piece on the board) into check, but the computer says at that point ...
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11
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3
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Is chess with pawn odds still a draw?
Virtually everyone believes chess from the starting position is a draw, and the result is borne out at top level - at the ICCF correspondence chess world chess championships, almost every game is ...
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112
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0
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3
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Hamppe-Meitner, the final verdict?
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Na4 Bxf2+
For those of you who never heard of Hamppe-Meitner. Now I dimly remember that a super engine somewhere found a White win, but even the bringer of the ...
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1
vote
1
answer
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Game drawn - timeout vs insufficient material
I just finished a game where I only have a black king and my opponent has a king and a pawn.
My opponent was out of time, and Chess.com considered this was a draw.
Game drawn - timeout vs ...
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-5
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1
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Can Black draw this game? [closed]
Carlsen-Svidler 2010 Blitz. Black to move. Can he draw by perpetual checks? In the actual game, he resigned two moves later.
[FEN "6R1/8/3B4/5K1k/r7/8/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
[StartFlipped "0&...
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1
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Is there a sequence to force a draw in crazyhouse?
I have heard that there is something like a 9 move sequence to force a draw in crazyhouse. Is there such a sequence?
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1
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Can Black draw by perpetual check?
In this position, from the game Carlsen-Radjabov, it
is White to move. Is it possible to get rid of the checks?
[Title "Carlsen-Radjabov, World Blitz Championship, Moscow Russia, 11/18/2010"]...
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1
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Actual cases of a "frivolous draw offer"
Having been inspired by a recent question here, here is another.
FIDE §E11.5 prohibits "unreasonable offers of a draw". Some specific cases which might get frowned upon by your opponent, ...
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2
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Insufficient material rule [closed]
As I understand chess rules, insufficient material means K vs. K, K vs. KB, or K vs. KN. (Correct me if I am wrong.)
But what about KB vs. KB when both bishops are in the same colored square? Am I ...
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1
answer
114
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Does the strength of computers invalidate fears that chess is "too easy", etc.? [closed]
Many years ago, I think it was Capablanca who said chess was too easy and I think also, long before computers could play a decent, the "draw death" of chess was discussed.
But can't ...
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6
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World championship 2021: Game 10: Why was it a draw?
Game: https://lichess.org/broadcast/world-chess-championship-2021/game-10/RwhGwnPX
I assume that the players agreed for a draw because they are GMs and both are capable of playing perfect game. But I ...
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5
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1
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246
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Technique to draw this rook endgame
I'm familiar with the technique of drawing this endgame with White:
[fen "8/R4pk1/6p1/7p/7P/6P1/p4PK1/r7 w - - 0 1"]
However, I faced an endgame yesterday that's objectively a draw, but ...
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22
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1
answer
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What will happen if all games are draws for a World Chess Championship?
What will happen if all the games in the World Chess Championship are draws? Who will be considered the world champion?
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2
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1
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Did Geller resign in a drawn position vs Spassky in a 1959 game?
Did Geller resign in a drawn position vs Spassky in 1959? Or could White win? Here is the famous controversial position, Black to move.
[FEN "6k1/6p1/7p/7P/2q1B1P1/Kp3P2/1B6/2N5 b - - 0 1"]
[...
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24
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3
answers
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Running out of time before playing a forced move that would draw the game
What happens if a player runs out of time before playing a forced move that would end in a draw? I suspect it is a loss, but it would be fair to be a draw.
7K/6P1/8/8/8/8/1k4p1/8 b - - 0 1
1... g1=Q ...
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6
votes
2
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971
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Why does this game not end as a draw by insufficient material?
I played an online game at chess.com and here is the endgame:
[fen "8/8/1p2p2k/pP2P1p1/P1K3P1/8/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
After white's last move a4, I thought the game ends immediately as a draw by ...
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2
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2
answers
339
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Will games be perfect, and most likely a draw, if both players get infinite time?
I have played a lot of chess games. The thing that always bothered me was that bloody clock. It looks as if the game is a game about who can think the fastest and it makes one nervous. Now, I know it'...
0
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1
answer
196
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What constitutes a draw?
I know what makes a game a stalemate, and I know that stalemate is 1/2 point to everyone, and I assume draw is the same, but can there be a draw without a stalemate?
2
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4
answers
245
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Is this endgame a draw?
I reached this position in a game. I don't think either side can force a win?
White to move.
[FEN "8/pB6/P7/4pK2/3b1p2/5P2/3k4/8 w - - 0 1"]
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1
vote
1
answer
100
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All draw Round Robin
Do you know a chess tournament (I wrote Round Robin, since it seems extremely improbable for Swiss) where all games ended drawn? Since of course even I can come up from personal experience with a four ...
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1
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Why not immediately force a draw when losing is possible but winning isn't?
In my last question, I asked why engines sometimes force a draw when they can still win. Now, I'm asking about the opposite situation:
[FEN "5K2/5n2/8/3n2k1/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
1. Ke8? (1. ...
7
votes
3
answers
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Why do chess engines cause immediate draws rather than giving the opponent the opportunity to blunder or run out of time?
Consider a chess position like this one:
[FEN "K7/4k1p1/8/8/3B4/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
1. Ka7 (1. Bxg7) 1... g5 2. Ka6 Kd6 3. Ka5 Kd5 4. Ba7 Kc4 5. Bb6 Kc3 6. Bc5 Kb2 7. Ka4 Ka1 8. Kb3 g4 9. Kc2 ...
6
votes
2
answers
163
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Have any tournaments considered a draw to be a loss for both sides?
In most tournaments, a win is 1 point and a draw is 0.5 points for both sides. I'm aware of "armagadden matches" where a draw is 0 points for white, and 1 point for black.
Have there been ...
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4
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Why do GMs repeat moves instead of offering a draw?
Watching recaps of the 2021 Candidates Tournaments, so many games end in consecutive repeating moves. I have a general impression that lots of top level games are drawn by repeating moves. Why do the ...
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4
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Insufficient material draw on lichess.org
[FEN "8/8/1k5K/8/1p1N4/8/p7/8 w - - 0 1"]
I had KPP material and my opponent had KN. My time ran out and I lost the game. Shouldn't this have been a draw?
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6
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1
answer
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Winning percentage (white win/draw/black win) in chess960/9LX in 2021?
How does the winning percentage (white win/draw/black win) in chess 960 (Fischer random) compare to that of regular chess?
The above was asked here: Winning percentage in chess 960. I would like to ...
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19
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2
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Is this a draw despite the Stockfish evaluation of −5?
I reached this position as Black:
[Title "Black to move"]
[FEN "8/8/8/3q4/6kp/7R/6P1/6K1 b - - 3 46"]
And I felt that I cannot make any progress and so it feels like a draw. ...
- 2,595
2
votes
1
answer
95
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Time out question in a drawish endgame
With some extremely rare exceptions, KNN vs KR endgame should be a draw. However, I am wondering what if this endgame happens in a game with no increments. I think the following will happen at chess....
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5
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1
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253
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A question about draw detection in chess engines
Let us look at this position.
[FEN "4k3/8/8/p1p1p1p1/P1P1P1P1/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1"]
This is obviously a draw. Analyzing this with the Stockfish engine says that it is a balanced position. ...
- 51
4
votes
4
answers
899
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Is there a good strategy to achieve a draw?
Background
Sometimes I face players who are much stronger than me and my first thought is, 'I just need a draw in this match' so I play "carefully"
My Current Strategies
Offer a draw
It ...
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7
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2
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204
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Source on common ways to make draws
I was recently surprised by the following drawing idea, black to move:
6k1/pR3pbp/6p1/1Q6/8/5nP1/PP1r3P/5K2 b - - 0 1
In this position black can play Nxh2+ and, no matter white's king move, move the ...
user25182
1
vote
0
answers
249
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Contempt factor [closed]
I have a question concerning the contempt factor of a chess engine, that i am writing, and thought that this forum would be the best one to ask it in. The contempt factor is a way of deincentivizing ...
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What counts has "having enough material to mate"?
I'm aware that if one's flag falls then the game is declared a win for the opposing side if something like "they have enough material to mate" or "it is possible to mate". I'm ...
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5
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Why is there no rule allowing a player to claim a draw in lonely king endgames?
I was wondering, why is there no way for a player, who has sufficient mating material, to claim a draw against a lonely king?
According to Wikipedia:
The rules allow for several types of draws: ...
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4
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Empirical question: Is a drawish opening line really a concern for an ambitious player?
While similar questions have been asked before and many comments were given, I couldn't find a thread dealing with my particular experiences. So:
Whenever I discuss openings with professional and even ...
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3
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Tablebases say this position is drawn, but Stockfish disagrees-What does that mean?
Today I found myself in the below position as black (me to play). My gut told me it should be a draw, but as my opponent and I are both fairly weak there was a significant chance one of us would ...
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3
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King + Queen vs. King + Queen - is this a draw?
Black and white both have one queen and the king. Is this game a draw?
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3k
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What is the meaning of "dead draw"?
I heard the term "dead draw" a lot, but I don't know its meaning and when a position is "dead draw".
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2
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Lichess endgame evaluation
Why is it that Lichess, and other engines for that matter, give a non-zero evaluation score on an endgame position that should be either a draw or a win for one of the sides (given perfect play)? For ...
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