Site Ideas
20 Sep 18
20 Sep 18
Originally posted by @bigdoggproblemStill can win by timeout.
The server should automatically rule the game a draw when the only material on the board is:
1. King versus King
2. King and Knight versus King
3. King and Bishop versus King
...as no mate is possible in any of them, no matter how badly one plays.
Not allowed on over the board games but can happen on here.
I agree though should be auto.
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21 Sep 18
Originally posted by @bigdoggproblemAlso K+B vs K+B of the same colour. In all other piece-vs-pieve situations both players can mate a sufficiently stupid opponent, but not in that one.
The server should automatically rule the game a draw when the only material on the board is:
1. King versus King
2. King and Knight versus King
3. King and Bishop versus King
...as no mate is possible in any of them, no matter how badly one plays.
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21 Sep 18
Originally posted by @bigdoggproblemIf stalemate is still possible then no.
The server should automatically rule the game a draw when the only material on the board is:
1. King versus King
2. King and Knight versus King
3. King and Bishop versus King
...as no mate is possible in any of them, no matter how badly one plays.
21 Sep 18
Originally posted by @shallow-blueHey Blue, I've had a few piece-vs-peeve situations myself.
Also K+B vs K+B of the same colour. In all other piece-vs-pieve [sic] situations both players can mate a sufficiently stupid opponent, but not in that one.
PS I'm in favour of auto-draw when insufficient material to mate remains on the board.
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24 Sep 18
1 edit
Originally posted by @moonbusWell, that's my point.
Hey Blue, I've had a few piece-vs-peeve situations myself.
PS I'm in favour of auto-draw when insufficient material to mate remains on the board.
If either side has a rook, queein or pawn, then that side can mate. Not necessarily force mate against whatever the opponent still has, but nevertheless you can stumble into mate. None of those cases are, therefore, an auto-draw.
We're left with only minor pieces.
It is well-known that two bishops and bishop+knight can (painfully) force mate against a lone king, but any two minor pieces can get mate against a blunderer. Not an auto-draw.
We're left with at most one minor piece each.
One minor piece vs. lone king and LK vs. LK can obviously not mate, so they're auto-draws.
Dubious cases left: minor piece vs. minor piece. With N vs. N or N vs. B it is possible to construct a corner mate. Again you have to be an idiot to get mated that way, but it's always possible. No auto-mate.
But now bishop against bishop. You have to get mated in a corner of the opponent's bishop. The king can block two escape squares. The third must be occupied by your own bishop. This is only possible if you have unequal bishops. A same-coloured bishop can only block the mate, not aid it.
Therefore: two lone kings, lone king versus king plus one minor piece, and king plus bishop versus king plus same-coloured bishop should be automatic draws. Nothing else is.
(Except for things like blockades, but those are nearly impossible to detect automatically.)