Rules

What is a draw death in chess?

  • Rules
  • Legality
  • Result

Draw death is a rules concept: hypothetical scenario whereby elite-level chess players, aided by modern computer analysis, become so good that they never make mistakes, leading to endless drawn games (since chess is widely believed to be drawn with best play from both sides). In a game, verify the exact rule before making assumptions, because one detail can change the result.

What to look for on the board

  • Whether the move is legal.
  • Whether the rule changes the result.
  • Whether a special case applies.

Related terms

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