Issues with draws

Rule 10.2 (FIDE rules for slow chess) basically says that if you are close to running out of time, and your opponent either isn't trying to win or can't reasonably win anymore on the board, then you may claim a draw. It's not applicable if you can still get extra time (e.g. if there's an increment, or you get extra time when you reach move 60, etc). It's also not applicable in blitz (where the clock is considered just another part of the game).

That's of course rather vague. Most TDs don't understand the rule well, and it's not defined well (I know two great TDs, one of which thinks R v R is a draw under this rule because it should be, the other says, no, skewers etc still do happen in normal time pressure play, if the player is trying to setup stuff like that then it's not a draw). Anyway it's obviously not possible to implement this rule on a computer.

AFAIK the USCF equivalent of this rule is subtly different (the TD has the option to replace the clock with a time delay clock and let play go on -- great idea), and is known as the insufficient losing chances rule.

The insufficient mating material rule just says that if you run out of time but the opponent can't mate you anymore in any possible series of legal moves, then it's a draw. And if neither play can possibly mate anymore, stop playing already, the game is a draw. It's not directly related to 10.2 / insufficient losing chances.

Anyway neither rule would have saved you here, because it's 15 0 and there was still mating material.

Yeah, I know.  It was the 3 fold repetition and that I feel like my end position should count as a insufficient mating material that got me, but I know that there is debate on that since I could technically do a helpmate if I am either a masochist or an idiot but I thought I did a good job of proving that I wasn't going to be either.  But, whatever...

Though for clarification, why am I supposed to have to "claim" my draw in a repetition situation?  I don't understand the justification for it.  I just know it's true.

There isn't any debate, since you could technically do a helpmate. We know you weren't going to do it, but that doesn't matter for the rule.

You have to "claim" because that's the OTB rule -- OTB there isn't a little computer that helps to remind you that it's seen the position before. When you think you have a draw, you call the arbiter so that he can check. Chess.com just mimics that (but it does tell you, because the text on the button changes).

There are also cases of players doing four fold repetitions on purpose, until one of them plays something different. Psych tricks that I don't understand...

The reason I believe is because you have to know when it occurs.  It isn't just given to you. 

I see...

Knight vs. Pawn depends on the exact position.  If the knight (or king) cannot cover the queening square before the side with the pawn can promote, the side with the pawn should win.

I know my basic Knight and King vs Pawn and King endgames...  Thanks though...

me to

@blowerd.  Insufficient losing chances was introduced following the adoption of sudden death time control.  It's requires an adjudication.  An example is K + R vs. K + R.  This is easy to draw.  If your opponent will not accept a draw offer, you wait for either a third repetition or 50 moves.  If you are short on time, and your opponent will not accept a draw offer, you can lose on time because a third repetition or 50 moves will not occur before the flag drops.