Author: Ricardo Gibert
Date: 10:23:17 03/19/03
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On March 19, 2003 at 12:09:01, Bas Hamstra wrote: >What is the official rule: as far as I know whenever the same position has >actually occurred three times on the board, you can claim a draw. Is it required >that the color to move is also the same? > >Best regards, >Bas. There are 2 distinct cases that need to be differentiated: (1) Your *opponent* was the one that made the moves that repeated the position. (2) *You* were the one that made the moves that repeated the position. Note that there many very experienced players that are unaware there are these 2 distinct cases including some tournament directors I've encountered. IMPORTANT: In both cases, the only time you can make a draw claim is when it is *your* turn to move. In case (1), your draw claim is valid only if the position has "properly" repeated at least three times *and* the position *on the board* is one of them. In case (2), your draw claim is valid only if the position has "properly" (see below for an explanation) repeated at least two times *and* you can indicate a legal move, but do *not* play the move that would represent a third repetition. If you play the move, even though the position has thereby been repeated three or more times, your claim is invalid, because it is not *your* turn to move. Your opponent however can make a claim (his option to do so), but in accordance with case (1) rather than case (2). Note that a situation can occur such that a valid claim on your turn to move can be valid in accordance with *either* cases (1) or (2). They are not necessarily mutually exclusive possibilities. To be clear, it can happen on your move that: - Neither case is valid. - Only case (1) is valid. - Only case (2) is valid. - Either case (1) or case (2) is valid. In a tournament, it can happen that you will get a director rules against your draw claim in accordance with one of the cases and the other case is overlooked. Even directors get confused. It is important to understand the 2 distinct cases to avoid getting screwed. A position is "properly" repeated when the following three conditions are fulfilled: (1) The turn to move is the same in each repeated position. (2) The potential abilty to castle K-side and Q-side is the same in each repeated position for *both* players. (3) The legal moves available in each of the repeated positions is the same. In this regard, it should not be overlooked that the availability of en passant can adversely affect a claim.
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