[neysofu]

Another possible solution would be to simply... remove draws from the game. Instead of checkmating the goal becomes to capture the opponent's king.

Needless to say, no one likes this idea because it throws out of the window centuries of game theory. Endgames would be completely different. I'm not convinced it would be a less interesting game, though.

[wh0knows]

If you have insufficient material how can you capture the king? Checkmate is by definition one move before forced capture of the king, the game doesn’t change by making it end one move later.

[btilly]

And what happens if you wind up with king and rook vs king and rook?

Some positions simply do not allow for a win. Yes, you could say do it on time. But then it becomes about mechanical dexterity as people try to be faster than their opponent in a pointless piece shuffle.

[neysofu]

Yeah, I didn't think it through. I'd imagine such a rule change would still make draws significantly less likely though, right?

[reaperman]

The proposed rule change doesn't make sense, so I can't say what the ramifications would be. Charitably - you're now suggesting that others invent and propose a rule-change which makes draws significantly less likely.

There are no "on-board" rule changes you can make which won't destroy the game of chess. Any rule-changes have to be "meta" changes affecting points in a tournament, the ELO system, or ways to encourage players to play a wider variety of opponents. That's why everyone's talking about what it might look like to modify the points system in tournaments, because it's the most practical thing to actually change.

[acchow]

Can you provide an example of a draw/stalemate that would result in a winner with your rule change?

[BurningFrog]

There are many situations when this is for all practical purposes impossible.

For example a King vs King endgame. Even really weak players will never accidentally put their king next to the opponent.

[debugnik]

Even worse, it's an illegal move to leave your own king in check, if I recall correctly, so that simply can't happen, not even by accident. The only possible outcome for king vs king is a draw. Unless we were to modify even more rules, of course.

[kgabis]

Well... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTS9XaoQ6mg

[acchow]

> Instead of checkmating the goal becomes to capture the opponent's king.

These are the same.

[neysofu]

They are not – if the goal becomes to capture the king, and check-related rules are removed from the game, stalemates become impossible.

[dudinax]

Im not sure stalemate accounts for most draws at the highest level.

Getting rid of check does make for a better game at beginner levels.

It's both easier to teach and leads to exciting finishes ss noobs hang their king.

[charlysl]

Trying to force or avoid stalemate is a huge motive in top level endgames though regardless of whether they actually end in stalemate or not.

[doctor_phil]

There are a lot of endgames that are drawn because of stalemate though. Many pawn endgames ( e.g. pawn and king against lone king) are drawn because of stalemate, but would be a win in most cases if stalemate didn't exist.

[eterm]

You likely didn't mean to imply all king+pawn vs king endgames are drawn, but to clarify for the layman reading, many are winnable.

It depends on the locations of the kings relative to the pawn ( you generally want it in-front of your own pawn ), and the concept of opposition.

[acchow]

How can there be a win when you hit a stalemate? The players keep repeating the same cycle of moves for years until one dies of old age?

[neoromantique]

Stalemate in chess is when a player is not in check but has no legal moves that wouldn't result in a check.

So essentially it's a lost position for one player, but due to stalemate rule it will count as a draw.

[whimsicalism]

at least as described, would not be sufficient to remove draws from the game - but would remove stalemates

[thom]

I think you’re arguing for the abolition of stalemate (and certain kinds of pins), and that’s totally reasonable. This doesn’t solve drawisness in general though.

[paulddraper]

Capturing the king changes nothing, except stalemate.

(Which affects some draws but not most.)