How many ways, can you list, to draw a game of chess?

As a little challenge, give this a try for yourselves before reading on!

So far, I’ve counted no fewer than 7!!

1. Draw by agreement:- This can happen at any time throughout the game.
2. Draw by stalemate:- This most often occurs in endgames, but can, on rare occasions, happen in the middle game.
3. Draw by the 50-move rule:- If no pawn is moved or capture played in 50 moves, the game is a draw.
4. Draw by 3-fold repetition:- If the same position occurs, with the same player to play, three times in a game, the game is drawn.
5. Draw by perpetual check:- One side plays a series of checks that the other side can’t escape from.
6. Draw by insufficient material:- If all you have left is a knight or bishop plus king against a lone king, no checkmate is possible, and the game is drawn.
7. Draw on time:- This is the one that a lot of players forget about. If the only piece you have left is your king, then you cannot win on time!! Your opponent MUST checkmate you, within the 50-move rule, before his clock runs out, or the game is a draw.

I think that this is just about all. Unless you can add more!!

Dave Humphreys 09Dec18