How many ways, can you list, to draw a game of chess?
Posted by dwhump3yahoocouk on December 9, 2018
As a little challenge, give this a try for yourselves before reading on!
So far, I’ve counted no fewer than 7!!
- Draw by agreement:- This can happen at any time throughout the game.
- Draw by stalemate:- This most often occurs in endgames, but can, on rare occasions, happen in the middle game.
- Draw by the 50-move rule:- If no pawn is moved or capture played in 50 moves, the game is a draw.
- 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.
- Draw by perpetual check:- One side plays a series of checks that the other side can’t escape from.
- 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.
- 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
Tynedale Chess Club 
Tim W said
Two thoughts:
As a defender, in a theoretically drawn position, an arbiter would award a draw if you can demonstrate that you know how to draw. An example would be K&P v K, with the defending K in front of the pawn.
Also, If there is an arbiter, and you can argue that your opponent is not showing any attempt to win, then the arbiter may award a draw.
Does beg the question who is the arbiter in league match.