Why draw?

Originally posted by MIODude
hey Xanthos? how do you calculate that? did you run it through Fritz or something.. curious how to do that

Originally posted by XanthosNZ
It's not hard. With four pieces there are only 64*63*62*61 positions (many are mirror images and rotations which helps) and some are not legal. You just add them up.

but how do you know from position calculations who wins and who loses? Unless you are checking each position manually?

Originally posted by MIODude
but how do you know from position calculations who wins and who loses? Unless you are checking each position manually?

looks like a good website.. thanks!

Originally posted by XanthosNZ
With the stronger side to move:
Longest Mate: 40
Wins: 48.4
Draw: 51.6
Loses: 0.0

Originally posted by no1marauder
I believe these figures are misleading as they are based on random piece placement. With proper play, a Rook v. a Knight is usually a draw; all the inferior side need do is keep his King in the center. Unless the side with the Knight starts with his King and Knight next to each other in or near a corner, it's a draw and I would guess that would occur rarely, not almost half the time.

Originally posted by XanthosNZ
It's not based on random placement. It's based on every placement. Every possible starting position is collated into a tablebase and the number of positions that are forced wins and draws are divided by the total number.

Where is the randomness?

It´s really a draw ... Why ? The only chance for an white's win is to promote pawn but black's king gets near to white pawn very before white's king. So, pawn should fall down, and there is nothing else than a good draw for a really bad game.