how to agree a draw in a simple endgame in 4-player chess?

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RhythmMethod

Just spectated a game which came down to one king, one pawn  and one rook left each, all in the middle of the board.  Neither player seemed to know how to finish the game - they spent a while giving rook checks apparently aimlessly,  Their chat was disabled already so they couldn't discuss a draw. Eventually one blundered and lost.  In their positions I wouldn't have known what conditions would cause a draw to be agreed automatically (repetition? perpetual check? insufficient material?) - are there any rules on the server to tell us? How can you offer a draw with, or without, chat?  

dallin

You can have a tie in 4 Player Chess, when two players end the game with the exact same points.  But not a draw. We do, however, need a way to end a game that is in a traditionally drawn state, as you observed here. moves without a capture seems to be the most natural way to end the game.

What are your thoughts? If moves, what is the value of x?

One thought I have is that the 20 points that are awarded to the last player standing are done so with the idea that if the game were to continue, the remaining player could capture that king. That is not the case with what would be a traditionally drawn game. In this case, I think that once the game ends, no points should rewarded to any players. The game ends with points as they are.

RhythmMethod

Your suggestion sounds good. Better to enforce a draw after x moves without captures than wait for both players to agree a draw. Your method would cover draws by repetition, perpetual check and insufficient material.  The value of x should be large enough to allow a king and knight to cross the board and co-ordinate an attack on a remaining pawn or two. So, how about automatic draw after 25 moves without captures, and no further points awarded? 

RhythmMethod

Ah... FYI I just noticed a previous forum thread "Suggestion: Offering a draw with two people left" initiated by Oremus03, in which BabYagun suggests 50 moves without captures constitutes a draw. Glad it's being discussed.

chadnilsen

WHY NOT JUST ADD THE OFFER DRAW BOTTON????