Why was this game a draw? - Chess Forums

paulocardenas

Mar 28, 2025

0

#1

this game
https://www.chess.com/game/136777725472

I was playing as White and had a queen, a rook, and a bishop against my opponent’s king and two pawns. My opponent had no way to promote a pawn or checkmate me, but when my time ran out, the game was declared a draw instead of a win for me. Shouldn’t I have won since they had no possible checkmate?

justbefair

Mar 28, 2025

0

#2

paulocardenas wrote:

this game
https://www.chess.com/game/136777725472I was playing as White and had a queen, a rook, and a bishop against my opponent’s king and two pawns. My opponent had no way to promote a pawn or checkmate me, but when my time ran out, the game was declared a draw instead of a win for me. Shouldn’t I have won since they had no possible checkmate?

You didn't run out of time. It's stalemate.

JesusisKingBible

Mar 28, 2025

0

#3

But they have to make a move since it’s their turn but they can’t go anywhere so it’s then called a stalemate

magipi

Mar 28, 2025

0

#4

paulocardenas wrote:

Shouldn’t I have won

Yes, you should have. You had mate-in-1, but instead you decided to stalemate and draw. Also good.

bigD521

Mar 29, 2025

0

#5

paulocardenas wrote:

this game
https://www.chess.com/game/136777725472I was playing as White and had a queen, a rook, and a bishop against my opponent’s king and two pawns. My opponent had no way to promote a pawn or checkmate me, but when my time ran out, the game was declared a draw instead of a win for me. Shouldn’t I have won since they had no possible checkmate?

You also need to understand this. If you had played instead of Bf4, Bb2 ad ran out of time, you would have lost the game. It does not matter if a pawn can promote. If a King has a pawn then you must mate to win.

bigD521

Mar 29, 2025

0

#6

bigD521 wrote:

paulocardenas wrote:

this game
https://www.chess.com/game/136777725472I was playing as White and had a queen, a rook, and a bishop against my opponent’s king and two pawns. My opponent had no way to promote a pawn or checkmate me, but when my time ran out, the game was declared a draw instead of a win for me. Shouldn’t I have won since they had no possible checkmate?

You also need to understand this. If you had played instead of Bf4, Bb2 and ran out of time, you would have lost the game. It does not matter if a pawn can promote. If a King has a pawn then you must mate to win.