Yes. Hard for devs, but needed.
Problem with insufficient material draw
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Apr 9, 2024
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#3
The site would have to load an engine at the end of every game ending on timeout where the insufficient material to win on time code was flagged in order to capture those positions. In the vast majority of cases, there won't be a forced mate.
I know it's been suggested multiple times through the years. My guess it's unlikely to be implemented due to the requirements and how often it would change the outcome.
Fantastic ! Bravo
Apr 9, 2024
0
#5
Martin_Stahl wrote:
The site would have to load an engine at the end of every game ending on timeout where the insufficient material to win on time code was flagged in order to capture those positions. In the vast majority of cases, there won't be a forced mate.
I know it's been suggested multiple times through the year. My guess it's unlikely to be implemented due to the requirements and how often it would change the outcome.
Forget the engine, just use a tablebase. Any position with seven pieces or fewer on the board has already been solved.
All I know is if I had mate in one but got screwed into a fake draw due to insufficient material, I'd be super mad.
And frankly, I think the only possible forced mate where each side has a minor piece and nothing else is mate in one. So just quickly run through all legal moves and see if any of them are checkmate.
Also, I'm not talking about timeout. I'm talking about positions where there's absolutely no reason you shouldn't be able to play one more move and checkmate your opponent.
??? @AnshFortnite1
Apr 10, 2024
0
#8
1margen1um wrote:
just tell chess.com every single time it happens(never)
No it can happen thousands of games are played every day. I bet that has happened but no one reported it.
Apr 11, 2024
0
#9
zeptozetta wrote:
Forget the engine, just use a tablebase. Any position with seven pieces or fewer on the board has already been solved.
All I know is if I had mate in one but got screwed into a fake draw due to insufficient material, I'd be super mad.
And frankly, I think the only possible forced mate where each side has a minor piece and nothing else is mate in one. So just quickly run through all legal moves and see if any of them are checkmate.
Also, I'm not talking about timeout. I'm talking about positions where there's absolutely no reason you shouldn't be able to play one more move and checkmate your opponent.
That could work in the case of few pieces on the board but would require the use of the Nalimov tablebases. The site has Syzygy tablebases implemented and it will show whether or not mate is possible, not necessarily if it's forced. It still would only need to be checked for the side with time if they triggered the insufficient material code and would still be a weakness if there were too many pieces on the opposite side.
I'm not totally sure but the site might eventually change to be closer to the FIDE rule, where that type of position would be a win for the side with time and would still only require a material check, just a little more complex than exists now
When neither side has enough material to deliver a checkmate alone, chess.com automatically declares a draw. This is normally fine, but becomes a major problem if there's a forced mate on the board, like in the attached position. Chess.com should evaluate if there's a forced mate on the board before automatically declaring a draw due to insufficient material. I realize it won't come up often, but it's still a major oversight.
In case you think this is a stupid position that would never come up, here's a way it could happen.
https://youtu.be/ITBgmwUxwhM?si=Ytz0BW7ggDLQVkkQ