By FIDE rules, I think you would have to play it out. The rules specifically account for the fact that you could theoretically allow the promotion therefore losing on time would lose the game.
If it was under US Chess rules, it would be a draw on the pawn capture I believe. I would have to look it the specific regulation but they require a forced win in a case like that.
The question is, when is a "book draw" easy enough to consider that the inferior side knows how to play it?
Do we have to consider that all chess players are aware of the wrong rook pawn vs bishop, the Philidor position and so on?
While most opponents would accept a draw offer at this point, if they want to keep playing, the game is not officially drawn until mating material is not on the board. In theory that pawn could still queen and the game could be run (albeit with bad moves).
There are only 2 automatica draws: Insufficient material or stalemate.
There are two draws that must be claimed by a player: 3-fold repitition or 50 move rule. (in theory, you could repeat a position hundreds of times if neither player bothers to make the claim)
Any other draw must be agreed to by both players.
From the FIDE laws of chess: "The game is drawn when a position is reached from which a checkmate cannot occur by any possible series of legal moves. This immediately ends the game, provided that the move producing this position was legal." In the above position, there are a series of legal moves that could lead to checkmate.
Well, maybe this provision would apply in your case.
"Article 10: Quickplay Finish 10.1 A ‘quickplay finish’ is the phase of a game when all the (remaining) moves must be made in a limited time. 10.2 If the player, having the move, has less than two minutes left on his clock, he may claim a draw before his flag falls. He shall summon the arbiter and may stop the clocks. (See Article 6.12.b) 14 a. If the arbiter agrees the opponent is making no effort to win the game by normal means, or that it is not possible to win by normal means, then he shall declare the game drawn. Otherwise he shall postpone his decision or reject the claim. b. If the arbiter postpones his decision, the opponent may be awarded two extra minutes and the game shall continue, if possible in the presence of an arbiter. The arbiter shall declare the final result later in the game or as soon as possible after a flag has fallen. He shall declare the game drawn if he agrees that the final position cannot be won by normal means, or that the opponent was not making sufficient attempts to win by normal means. c. If the arbiter has rejected the claim, the opponent shall be awarded two extra minutes time. d. The decision of the arbiter shall be final relating to (a), (b) and (c)."
Well, maybe this provision would apply in your case.
"Article 10: Quickplay Finish 10.1 A ‘quickplay finish’ ...
You are looking at the old rules. Quickplay finishes are now under Appendix G. Not only must a tourney specify in advance that that appendix is in effect it does not apply to blitz games: rule G.3.
Yes, I agree with prfen. In this situation indeed it should not be considered a draw, but I think I forgot to mention one detail: all participants are aged below 15 at the time. Probably the arbiter called it a draw for instructive purposes. Anyway it's not ethical and i guess i should lose that game
Some time ago I was in a tournament where in a penultimate round I reached an endgame of bishops and pawns. At the time I (playing black) was better but lost my bishop after a classic pawn-bait trap (taking on a2, then white plays b3, and win the bishop). Luckily, my opponent was fairly innocent enough to let me reach this position. (I can't remember the position but it looks like this)
I just checked his king with his last pawn, and he grabbed it. I immediately called the arbiter, claiming it is a draw of wrong rook pawn ending, and the arbiter agreed. At the time he agreed, I have only 50 seconds left on the clock, while my opponent has more than 1 minute left.
After the game, I realized that despite the well-known 'book draw', I cannot force a 50-move rule or the threefold repetition with only 50 seconds, because if he moves his pawn every 49 moves, then I must play more than 150 moves, meaning that I must do 3 moves of my king and 3 times pressing the clock in one second! Worse, the rules stated that we cannot use both hands in a game (even to press the clock) and the clock is located on my right side of the board (while my king is on my left). Therefore, I conclude that it is practically impossible to force a draw provided that the arbiter was strict enough.
Indeed, I still fell guilty about this game and I think I don't deserve this kind of draw. What do you guys think? Is it a draw?