How about if the fools mate happens? It's less than 4 moves, should it be counted?
1. f3 e5
2. g4 Qh4#
minimum moves in a rated game
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Feb 28, 2008
0
#4
Wow, I thought it pretty likely that a mate in less than 4 would count, not that I expect to run into that on either side :). Mate in 7, maybe 
. OT, but I'd been playing a rough approximatino of the Phillidor, and just recently learned about Legal's mate (not the hard way.) Learning about traps tends to cause me to want to play the openings strictly by the book.
. OT, but I'd been playing a rough approximatino of the Phillidor, and just recently learned about Legal's mate (not the hard way.) Learning about traps tends to cause me to want to play the openings strictly by the book. 
well where the heck is the answer to this question?
Nov 10, 2021
0
#6
Biff_B wrote:
well where the heck is the answer to this question?
https://support.chess.com/article/599-the-game-ended-and-my-rating-didnt-change-at-all-why
I'm sure this question has been asked before. I coudn't find the answer upon search.
If one side times out in a rated game, how many moves need to have been made in order for the game to count? Similarly, if one side resigns in a rated game, is there a minimum number of moves that needed to have been made in order for the game to count? If there's a FAQ or rule list for rated games, please point me to it.
Thanks,
Paul