You've also learned about drawing a game by STALEMATE.
In this lesson we look at other ways you can win or draw (or lose!) a game of chess.
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You've learned about winning a game by CHECKMATE, as in the diagram on your left. You've also learned about drawing a game by STALEMATE. In this lesson we look at other ways you can win or draw (or lose!) a game of chess.
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You can also win a game of chess if your opponent RESIGNS. |
This means he gives up because his position is hopeless - whatever he plays he knows he will lose. If your opponent RESIGNS you still win - just as if you had CHECKMATED him. For the moment, you should play out every game until CHECKMATE. You will learn by seeing how your opponent finishes you off. And, you never know, perhaps your opponent will STALEMATE you.
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| If you are using a CHESS CLOCK you can win a game ON TIME. |
If you are playing in a TOURNAMENT you have a fixed amount of time to play your game. The game is played with a CHESS CLOCK which shows how much time you have left. If you run out of time you LOSE THE GAME as long as your opponent has enough pieces left to get checkmate.
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A game of chess is drawn if neither player has enough pieces left to force CHECKMATE. If you reach a position with just two Kings left on the board you can stop play - it's a DRAW. It's NOT STALEMATE - both players could move their Kings round the board all day if they felt like it - but it IS a draw.
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King and Knight against King is also a draw. You can see from the diagram that it's not possible to get CHECKMATE. If you have King and Two Knights against a King you can GET CHECKMATE but you CAN'T FORCE CHECKMATE so it's also a draw.
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The same thing happens with King and Bishop against King - if you get this you can agree a draw. You can also agree a draw with King and Knight against King and Knight, King and Knight against King and Bishop, or King and Bishop against King and Bishop. With King and Two Bishops against King you can FORCE CHECKMATE (but it's quite hard). With King, Bishop and Knight against King you can FORCE CHECKMATE (but it's VERY hard).
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| You can DRAW BY AGREEMENT. |
When you make your move, if you think the position is level you can OFFER A DRAW. If your opponent ACCEPTS YOUR OFFER the game is drawn. But, at this stage in your chess career it's better not to offer, or accept, draws. Play each game out to CHECKMATE or STALEMATE. You'll learn much more that way.
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A special rule for tournaments and matches: You can DRAW BY REPETITION. |
If you reach THE SAME POSITION WITH THE SAME PLAYER TO MOVE three times the game is drawn. You can only draw by this rule if you are writing your moves down, or if someone is watching the game. Note for parents and teachers - it is REPETITION OF POSITION, not REPETITION OF MOVES! And there's no such rule as PERPETUAL CHECK!
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A special rule for tournaments and matches: You can DRAW BY THE 50 MOVE RULE. |
This rule states that if, at any time of the game, BOTH players play 50 MOVES WITHOUT A PAWN MOVE OR A CAPTURE
the game is DRAWN. Again, you can only draw in this way if you are writing your moves down or if someone is watching your game. Note for parents and teachers: 1. It has NOTHING TO DO WITH only having your King left. 2. It is 50 MOVES EACH, not 25 MOVES EACH. 3. If either player moves a Pawn or makes a capture you start counting again.
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In most chess tournaments if you WIN a game you score ONE POINT, if you LOSE you score nothing, and if you DRAW both players score half a point. If you understand the rules about WINNING and DRAWING you can call yourself a real chess player. Click here for a quiz on this lesson. 
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