In chess, a game can end without a winner for various reasons. Here are the main types of draws that can occur:
Draw by mutual agreement
Both players agree to a draw. This often happens when the position is completely equal and neither player sees an opportunity to win.
Stalemate
A game is declared a draw if the player to move has no legal moves and is not in check. This is a common endgame scenario when the opponent fails to checkmate with limited pieces.
Threefold repetition
If the same position appears three times with the same player to move, they can claim a draw. This rule prevents games from dragging on indefinitely without progress.
50-move rule
If 50 consecutive moves are played without a piece being captured or a pawn being moved, a player can claim a draw. This rule is designed to prevent never-ending endgames.
Insufficient material
If neither player has enough pieces to checkmate the opponent (for example, king vs. king, king and knight vs. king, etc.), the game is immediately declared a draw.
Draw by perpetual check
When a player forces their opponent to repeat the same moves due to a constant check, the game is declared a draw by repetition.
Among these different types of draws, the most common in practice is draw by mutual agreement, especially among experienced players, as they can recognize an equal position before reaching the other types of draws.
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