Why is this a draw?

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Avatar of ganjacob

Hi.

I recently played a game using an online chess-engine that ended in a draw, but I don't understand why. I messed up a little bit in the end, and it most probably would have ended up in a draw anyway, but I don't understand why it was stopped when it did.

Why is this a draw? Is the engine buggy, or is it a rule I'm not aware of?

 1. d2-d4   g7-g6

 2. e2-e4   Bf8-g7

 3. Ng1-f3  d7-d6

 4. Nb1-c3  Ng8-f6

 5. Bf1-e2  Bc8-g4

 6. O-O     O-O

 7. h2-h3   Bg4xf3

 8. Be2xf3  e7-e6

 9. Rf1-e1  c7-c6

10. Bc1-g5  Nb8-d7

11. e4-e5   d6xe5

12. d4xe5   Nd7xe5

13. Re1xe5  Qd8-b6

14. Nc3-a4  Qb6-c7

15. Bg5-f4  Nf6-g4

16. Re5-e4  Ng4-e5

17. Qd1-e1  Ne5xf3

18. g2xf3   e6-e5

19. Bf4xe5  Bg7xe5

20. Re4xe5  Qc7-c8

21. Ra1-d1  Qc8xh3

22. Qe1-e4  a7-a6

23. Rd1-e1  b7-b5

24. Na4-c5  f7-f6

25. Re5-e6  Qh3-h5

26. Nc5-d7  Qh5-g5

27. Kg1-f1  Rf8-f7

28. Re6-e8  Ra8xe8

29. Qe4xe8  Kg8-g7

30. Re1-e7  Qg5-c1

31. Kf1-g2  Qc1-g5

32. Kg2-f1  Qg5-c1

33. Re7-e1  Qc1-g5

34. Re1-e7 

Thanks

Avatar of csalami

If a position is repeated 3 times the other player can claim a draw. (I am not sure about whether both players can claim a draw after a position is repeated 3 times on chess.com and other online servers, the OTB rule is pretty clear) Positions are considered the same if it's the same player to move, with the same move options for both players.

In this case, the position after 30. Re7, after 32. Kf1, and 34 Re7 are the same, therefore black could claim a draw, and the game is drawn.

Next time post a digram, it makes it easier to answer such questions.