How do 50 move Draws work?

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Shak_Pancakes

I was playing in a 10 min blitz game which was pretty much a draw

So I was really low on time, like 20 seconds and I was just moving really fast so I could get the 50 moves without a pawn move so it would register as a draw because the opponent won't accept the draw knowing I was low on time. We were around move 90 and it still didn't register as a draw... What's up with that? Nobody moved a pawn and it went over 50 moves why wasn't it a draw? I ended up losing on time since there is no delay and I couldn't move fast enough forever

 

AntonioVivaldiJr

I've been told that you have to request a draw in that situation here on Chess.com. It's not like in a computer program that will automatically declare a draw for 50 moves or three fold repetition of position. Obviously, if you're playing blitz, unfortunately, you don't have the luxury of time to offer that draw and then just have the other player come to his senses and accept it. I imagine that in blitz, these sorts of concessions might not happen since time is such an important part of the play. Your opponent will draw when he or she thinks it's futile to win from a certain position. But if you are low on time, obviously your opponent will know that they have the win and so wouldn't accept a draw in that situation.

Shak_Pancakes

Aww man that sucks, guess I gotta play faster next time.

Murgen

@Shak_Pancakes

Perhaps (as an experiment) you could play an unrated live game with a friend (with a longer time limit) and (both of you) deliberately shuffle the pieces around for fifty moves to see if it is then possible to claim a draw.

That way at least you would know if it was possible or not.

Alternatively you might be able to play a game with one of the weaker levels of the chess computer (at 10|10); carry it for 50 moves and then see if you can claim a draw... that option would cost you some rating points though. Smile

JSLigon
It has to be 50 moves by both sides without a pawn move or a capture. It doesn't matter if you're on move 90 or move 130 or whatever, just whether there's been a pawn move or capture in the last 50 moves. Also I think you might have to request a draw to invoke the rule on chess.com (same for threefold repetition).
Bichir

In all fairness, the last pawn move in that game (provided it is the one you have posted a screenshot from), was move 40, the game ended after black's move 86, that's not quite 50 moves without moving a pawn.

RookSacrifice_OLD

you press "draw" button to claim a draw if one can be claimed. If not it is just a draw offer.

JSLigon
If I was black in that game and my opponent was very low on time, I'd shuffle the king for 49 moves and then push the a pawn. Still no way for white to win, and it resets the 50 move count. Play with an increment and that nonsense makes no difference of course.
Shak_Pancakes

Thanks for the help guys, going back on the game you are right it was not quite 50 moves. It was close(46 I think). I actually tried pressing draw a few times and he just declined. Maybe if I played 5 more moves in that time then pressed the draw I would have been able to claim it.