From: Jeff Mallett <jeffm <at> CRUZIO <dot> COM>
Date: 13 oct 1995
Subject: Re: Notation of position and score?

>I'm now wondering if
>chess has SEN'NICHITE, perpetual moves (?), which
>results in a tie game after the players intentionally
>repeat the same moves twice (or is that three times?)

...or is that four times now?

>from a strategic reason when other moves are legally
>available.

Chess has "draw by repetition" meaning that a position is repeated 3 times
with the same person to move each time.  The moves of the pieces have to be
the same each time too, i.e. same castling and en passant privileges must
be intact.  It often comes about by "perpetual check", which IS allowed in
chess.

>Is this stalemate in chess, too?

Yes it's a drawn game, where the players split the point (not a Shogi
no-contest).  Although it's a stalemate in the English sense of the word
because neither side can make progress towards a win, in chess it's never
called a "stalemate" as that word is reserved for the no-legal-moves
situation.

>-Taki Naruto <tn <at> panix <dot> com>


-----------------------------------------------------
Jeff Mallett                         jeffm <at> cruzio <dot> com
Strategy Labs, Inc.             Voice: (408) 338-6324
                                  Fax: (408) 338-6325
-----------------------------------------------------