White with 3 move odds, it is mate in 15
It is mate in 15.
Chess is a draw
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Just a very simplified view about the question.
I think it is (occasionally) true that until the position for white and black is symmetrical (meaning: same number of pieces, with a mirror plane crossing e.g. the line along a4a5-h4h5) on the board, the evaluation of it is draw.
More accurately, it is draw, if the symmetry cannot be broken (typically in some endgame) or / and when it can be still restored afterwards.
However, at some point at the opening the symmetry will be necessarily broken, and then the game become complex.
what breaks the symmetry:
- At occurence of check, the immediate answer is almost always any but non symmetric (and it could not be asked from the opponent not to give chess).
- The capturing piece in the case of a symmetrical position on the board is the same kind but of different color (there is absolutely no meaning agreeing in not to capture at all the same kind of piece).
- Non mirrorable moves due of impossibility to jump through the piece moved just right now.
- Just after any piece is captured, the opposite side can avoid from the same event to happen (which is usually the preferred choice).
- The opponent can capture a piece by making a move which not maintaining symmetry any more.
- In the case of attack on any pieces, symmetry also will be preferably(usually) broken.
So the question is, in the opening, when the first occurence of breaking the symmetry occurs? Is it happening for black or white ?...
Based on the above ones, there is no reason of effort on keeping the symmetry at the opening for too long by effort, as this only leads to draw, at best cases.
The pawn structure is the only one which cannot be restored to the original position. The other pieces could be, at least theoretically.
So, finally: looking at / for games starting with symmetrical positions, could give some idea about how and when the symmetry breaking happens during the first moves, and what are the roles of the pawns in that.
Theoretical value of the game is a draw, without a doubt. Let us try it with 7 men endgame tablebase. TO this tablebase, we will give symmetrical positions with pieces that are enough to give mate behind paws.