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Questions tagged [draw]

Questions relating to drawing in chess

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70 votes
12 answers
63k views

Why is stalemate a draw?

It is so difficult to force stalemate and sometimes unintentional too, so why is stalemate a draw? As the opponent doesn't have a further move, why is it not considered a win?
iMeMyself's user avatar
  • 811
43 votes
4 answers
5k views

Is this endgame (sort-of Q vs K) a draw?

I think the following endgame is a draw. [FEN "7k/5BpP/3K2P1/8/8/8/8/4q3 w - - 0 1"] My reasoning: I'm playing white. I will only move my king, always. Black's king cannot move. If the queen decide ...
Pedro A's user avatar
  • 1,089
34 votes
4 answers
8k views

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 ...
minseong's user avatar
  • 908
33 votes
5 answers
17k views

Game ended with a handshake

In a amateur game, black offered a handshake and white shook hands with him and neither spoke any word and the game ended. Later they had a dispute whether the game is a draw or a win for white. Black ...
Zuriel's user avatar
  • 9,289
32 votes
4 answers
201k views

Is it possible to checkmate with knight and king against king?

I would like to clarify two things: Is it possible to checkmate with only a knight and a king against a lone king? What will happen when one side has a king and knight and the other has just a king, ...
BlueBerry - Vignesh4303's user avatar
31 votes
6 answers
4k views

Rules: en passant and draw by triple repetition

A question of rulebook pedantry: One can claim a draw when the same position occurs the third time, the same player having the move. Two positions are not the same if the earlier allows a capture en ...
thb's user avatar
  • 4,579
27 votes
6 answers
12k views

What is sufficient mating material?

The FIDE chess rules describe that "The game is draw when a position is reached from which a checkmate cannot occur by any possible series of legal moves" (FIDE rule 9.6). This rules is sometimes ...
Morten Zilmer's user avatar
26 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is computer chess exhibiting the predicted "draw death"?

At various times, even going back 100 years or more, people have been predicting the "draw death" of chess meaning that top players will get so good that every game will be a draw. In the 1984 World ...
Cecil De Vere's user avatar
25 votes
5 answers
5k views

Examples of forced stalemate

The usual case one often sees specially in blitz play is when one side (usually the winning) mis-plays and then stalemate occurs with the losing side dodging a loss. But are there positions where ...
user929304's user avatar
  • 3,426
25 votes
5 answers
8k views

Is it a draw by insufficient material if the board is K vs K, N & N?

It isn't possible to force checkmate with King vs. King, Knight & Knight. A checkmate position, however, is still possible to achieve, so does that mean the 50 move rule applies, or does ...
james82345's user avatar
24 votes
3 answers
5k views

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 ...
Chaotic's user avatar
  • 351
24 votes
3 answers
7k views

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 ...
callum's user avatar
  • 351
24 votes
1 answer
3k views

Please help solve this endgame problem posed by a friend

[FEN "5K2/k7/4P1p1/8/8/8/4b3/8 w - - 0 1"] A friend of mine is challenging me to find a solution. It’s White to play and DRAW.
knowellm's user avatar
  • 249
23 votes
2 answers
1k views

How do you hold a draw with a knight against a rook?

Knight and King versus Rook and King is a theoretical draw. Yet, you might lose if you don't know the method. How do you hold a draw?
user avatar
22 votes
1 answer
7k views

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?
Johan Jomy's user avatar
22 votes
2 answers
3k views

The history of the 175-move draw rule

The U.S. Chess Federation piloted a 175-move draw rule in the fourth edition of its Official Rules. This interesting rule ended a game automatically after 175 moves, whether or not either player had ...
thb's user avatar
  • 4,579
21 votes
1 answer
4k views

Has the 75 move draw rule ever been invoked in a FIDE rated standard game involving a GM?

In the latest FIDE Laws of Chess the arbiter is supposed to step in and declare the game drawn if 75 moves are played by both sides with no captures and no pawn moves. It would be understandable if ...
Brian Towers's user avatar
  • 100k
20 votes
6 answers
13k views

Why did I lose on time with three pawns versus a knight? Shouldn't it be a draw?

I just lost an online game on time (while playing on lichess.org). I had three pawns and my opponent had just a knight. I don't understand why it's not a draw. Shouldn't it be a draw because my ...
Dominik Kunicki's user avatar
20 votes
5 answers
4k views

What is the theoretical maximal material difference of a dead draw which is not a stalemate?

I have noticed the following example, which should be a dead draw: I am wondering what is the theoretical material difference of a dead draw which is not a stalemate? (I am not asking about agreed ...
Zuriel's user avatar
  • 9,289
20 votes
5 answers
193k views

With only the King left, how can you get a draw?

Let's say I have only the King left. I've read several rules and posts of people saying there is a limit to the number of moves your opponent has to check mate you in, but there are some ...
Charles Menguy's user avatar
19 votes
2 answers
5k views

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. ...
user21820's user avatar
  • 2,835
18 votes
2 answers
4k views

Is this endgame a draw? 2 Bishops + 4 Pawns vs Queen + 1 Pawn

I had this position playing as Black, with Black to move: [FEN "8/5pk1/6p1/2pQ1b2/1p1b1P2/5K2/8/8 b - - 0 1"] I had both bishops + 4 pawns = 6.5 points + 4 points = 10.5 points. The opponent has a ...
BigOther's user avatar
  • 749
18 votes
2 answers
297k views

With only a king left, how many moves remaining until a draw?

I am a beginner in chess. If I have only a king left, how many moves does my opponent have to mate me?
Subhash Singh Rawat's user avatar
18 votes
1 answer
4k views

Can you take back a draw offer?

Is it possible to take back the draw offer if the opponent was not immediately replying to it?
Superluminal's user avatar
  • 2,003
18 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is the pawns only variant a draw?

In the pawns-only variant of chess, each side starts with 8 pawns and a king on the usual squares, no pieces, with other rules being the same as in regular chess, including promotion. While general ...
Aravind's user avatar
  • 895
18 votes
3 answers
3k views

Are there endgames which could be forced wins if not for the 50-move rule?

Wikipedia's article on the fifty-move rule states: All of the basic checkmates can be accomplished in well under 50 moves. However, in the 20th century it was discovered that some positions of ...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 6,192
16 votes
5 answers
5k views

He has two queens. I have one. Is it proper chess etiquette to check him non stop just to avoid losing?

I am losing a game. My only option is to check my opponent non stop. I have no chance to checkmate him. I am only hoping to force a draw. Is this proper chess etiquette?
nathan triplett's user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
4k views

Is this endgame position a theoretical win or draw?

The following tactics problem comes from ChessTempo, and was taken from a game between Anatoly Karpov and Alexey Kuzmin. It's white's move. The idea of the problem is to find white's best move from ...
Mark Byers's user avatar
  • 1,669
15 votes
7 answers
7k views

Is it bad etiquette to try to make an opponent lose on time when a position is clearly drawn?

The other day I was playing a rapid game (30 minutes each side) online. I got into time trouble but I managed to convert the position into a drawn endgame. (Not just a theoretical draw—a clear draw ...
Joe's user avatar
  • 408
15 votes
2 answers
4k views

Resignation when a draw is offered

In a recent online game, I offered a draw when the endgame is clearly drawing. To my surprise, instead of replying to my draw offer, my opponent resigned. I have no idea why they did so and my best ...
Zuriel's user avatar
  • 9,289
14 votes
3 answers
3k views

Maximum number of pieces on board in dead position

It is possible in a chess game to have a dead position in which both players have all eight pawns, one bishop, and a king--20 pieces total. If the two players' pawns are interlocked in "zig-zag" ...
supercat's user avatar
  • 1,192
14 votes
4 answers
3k views

Endgame - pawnless Queen + Rook vs Queen

Today, when I was playing end game I had a queen, a rook and a king (no pawns). My opponent had just a queen. It was his turn (the board was pretty blank) and he started giving continuous checks. I ...
Tanay Karnik's user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
4k views

How to tell that this is a draw

In an endgame I played as Black, after the rooks were exchanged, the below position was reached. A funky stalemate quickly ensued. [FEN "8/5ppk/5p1p/8/3K1P2/6P1/7P/8 b - - 0 1"] [startflipped ""] 1.....
Rewan Demontay's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
4k views

How to indicate that "I need more time to consider your draw offer" in a formal game?

When my opponent makes a draw offer, I will consider whether to accept this draw offer or not and this consideration could take very long, say 20 minutes or more. What is a good etiquette now to ...
Zuriel's user avatar
  • 9,289
14 votes
2 answers
2k views

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 ...
Hauke Reddmann's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
4k views

What is the proper way to ask for a draw?

I know that the rule states "The game is drawn upon agreement between the two players. This immediately ends the game." but what I'm interested in knowing the exact way to offer a draw because I've ...
Sean Bernardino's user avatar
14 votes
5 answers
1k views

What are the different rules for claiming a draw?

According to the current FIDE rules of chess: The game is drawn upon a correct claim by the player having the move, when the same position, for at least the third time (not necessarily by a ...
Halvard's user avatar
  • 986
13 votes
2 answers
5k views

Why is offering draw not recorded but giving a check recorded?

In recording a game, one typically does not record offering draws (if yes, how and is it required?) while one does indicate that a particular move gives a check by using + (or ++ for double checks). ...
Zuriel's user avatar
  • 9,289
13 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is this endgame position a draw?

It’s white to move. [FEN "8/8/8/3k3p/3P3K/2P3R1/8/7r w - - 0 1"] I was white, and this was a blitz game which ended up as a draw because I didn't know what to do. My friend and I later analyzed this ...
chubbycantorset's user avatar
13 votes
4 answers
4k views

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".
User's user avatar
  • 219
13 votes
2 answers
1k views

Statistics on rejected draw offers

I am wondering if there are any statistics on rejected draw offers (say of GM games). Namely, what are the following percentages of the following results when a draw offer is declined: The side that ...
Zuriel's user avatar
  • 9,289
13 votes
2 answers
5k views

Is there any chess engine that can show if one side has a forced draw?

Is there any chess engine that has an analysis mode that can show if a position is a forced draw by either side? It is common for engines to output evaluations of 0.0 when they detect a draw. But an ...
Mark Byers's user avatar
  • 1,669
13 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can Loss by Checkmate be Avoided by Invoking the 50-Move Rule Immediately After the 100th Half-Move?

The FIDE Laws of Chess state the 50-move rule as follows: 9.3 The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by a player having the move, if: 9.3.1 he/she indicates his/her move, which cannot be ...
Dave's user avatar
  • 359
13 votes
1 answer
1k views

Draws, castling rights, and the FIDE's 2014 rulebook revision

A question of rulebook pedantry: Effective July 2014, the FIDE has revised its Laws of Chess. As you know, the Laws have long allowed a player to claim a draw by repetition. The July 2014 Laws, ...
thb's user avatar
  • 4,579
12 votes
4 answers
1k views

Rules: Is this position a draw?

Is this position a draw? [FEN ""] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. Ng1 Ng8 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Ng1 Ng8 I don't mean to ask the age-old question "Is chess a draw?"; four moves have been played here, returning to the starting ...
Tom 7's user avatar
  • 241
12 votes
2 answers
57k views

What happens after two kings stay on the board?

A lot of times my sibling and I have played chess and have ended up with just two kings. We have never known what would happen next. Two kings on the board would somehow result in an infinite game, as ...
Veo's user avatar
  • 221
12 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is it poor form to win a drawn position on time?

I was playing a 3-minute game, my opponent had around 15 seconds to my ~50 seconds when he managed to cancel out the last pawns to make it so we each had a king and a rook. I let his time run out and ...
aaazalea's user avatar
  • 223
12 votes
2 answers
4k views

Is shuffling aimlessly for hundreds of moves permissible?

As I write this, game 73 of the TCEC Season 18 superfinal has just ended. What was most "interesting" about this game is the sheer amount of shuffling both sides did: starting from around ...
Allure's user avatar
  • 28.4k
12 votes
3 answers
4k views

Is the Queen plus pawn versus Queen endgame always a draw?

In a Queen + King versus Queen + King endgame (including zero or more pawns) these is a strong draw tendency due to the fact that a Queen can deliver multiple checks in a row to the opponents open ...
user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is the 50-move rule ever used in grandmaster games?

The 50-move rule states that if no capture or pawn move occurs for 50 consecutive moves, then either player may claim a draw. It seems like the 50-move rule is never truly necessary to determine that ...
Zubin Mukerjee's user avatar

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