Lesson 7 Draws

There are many ways that a draw can occur in chess. The first way is that if two players were in a position that they felt was not winnable yet, they did not want to take a chance on losing. They could agree to a draw. This means that each player earned ½ point. Wins are worth 1 point and losses are 0. In chess tournaments, points are important for winning prizes. Another way that draws occur are through forcing the opponent into a position where nolegal moves can be made. This would be called a stalemate.

              Diagram 45                Diagram 46                    Diagram 47

This is a stalemate if it is White’s move.                 This is also a stalemate if it is Black’s move.    This is a stalemate if it is White’s move.

Two other ways that draws can happen involve moving the pieces in a specific manor. If two players get to the same exact position three times in a row because neither want to give up their position, it is a draw. In Diagram 48, Black is going to keep checking White’s King because he is losing by 7 points (a Rook and two Pawns). So, as White moves his King, Black’s Queen goes back and forth on a5 and b5. This repetition of moves is also call a perpetual check, since Black will not stop checking. White cannot get out of it. The other move method for a draw is that if both players make 50 moves without capturing a piece, either player can then call it a draw.

       Diagram 48

The final way to draw is to have insufficient pieces to do the job. A Knight or a Bishop cannot deliver checkmate. Two Knights cannot checkmate the King either. A Bishop and a Knight can checkmate the King. But it is a difficult technique to learn. Two Bishops will do the job nicely. But there is still a technique to be learned.

                Diagram 49        Diagram 50      

        Draw                                                                                                                                             Draw