As mentioned in the tips on chess etiquette, draws in chess can be reached by one of several ways: by mutual agreement, insufficient mating material, three-fold repetition of the position, and stalemate.
In this article, we will discuss three-fold repetition and stalemate. But first let’s discuss the value of a draw.
In a friendly game of chess, a draw might not mean much. But in a tournament, a draw can make a big difference. For each tournament game, a player receives 1 point for a win, 0 points for a loss, and half a point (.5) for a draw. If a player has played three rounds in an event and has 2.5 points, that means he/she has two wins and a draw.
That half-point might be enough for first place by the end of the tournament. So drawing a game, especially if down material, can be an important strategy in chess.
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Draws by three-fold repetition mean that the position on the entire board has repeated three times – but not necessarily three times in a row. To prove this you will need to have recorded your moves or at the least called a TD over to observe the moves. In the position below with White to move, if the following sequence of moves occur, then the same position will be on the board.
Now if White moves 3. Rf8+ again and Black moves the king back to c7, then this position has repeated three times. But what if the sequence occurred like this:
Because of the pawn moves, this is a completely new position on the board. The count has restarted. Every time a new move occurs that changes the position somewhere on the board, the three-fold repetition count starts over again (for example, if the White king moved).
Stalemate is a difficult concept to grasp for some beginning players. Some players will call out “stalemate” when what actually occurred was some other form of draw. Remember, all stalemates are draws but not all draws are stalemates!
Above, it is Black to move. The only piece that can move is the black king (the pawns are blocked) but the king has no legal square available. This is stalemate. The game is over and is considered a draw or a tie game.
In a tournament, each player receives half of a point for a draw.
Below, the player of the White pieces is down material but notice that if the only piece White had left were the king, it would be trapped with no legal move.
Can you find the best move for White below?
Answer: Rxd7+! By capturing the pawn, the rook sacrifices itself to gain stalemate. If either the king or the queen captures the rook, the game is over. If the king moves away, the rook can capture the queen and no matter how Black recaptures, the game is drawn.
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Note from Jerry Nash: Scout leaders and parents should know that the questions listed in these articles are meant to be used as a starting point and a guide for the type of questions and critical thinking you should be encouraging in your scouts. These questions are mere samples of the kinds of questions that could be asked. By providing a few answers within the articles, we mean to help those new to chess not feel completely overwhelmed with the information, and to help provide context to the type of knowledge that should be gained through the experience. Happy scouting, and happy chess merit badging!