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“Death” one of 5 ways to lose at Chess, according to PGN standard

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Re: “Death” one of 5 ways to lose at Chess, according to PGN standard

#51

Post by Someone »

Ekaros wrote: post #38
anderskaseorg wrote: post #32

The rules of chess are defined by the FIDE Handbook ( https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012018 ), not the PGN standard. Although the FIDE Handbook makes no explicit provision for the death of the player, it does say: “6.9. Except where one of Articles 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.3 applies, if a player does not complete the prescribed number of moves in the allotted time, the game is lost by that player. However,…

Makes perfect sense. You can't win king vs king+pawn ever. As such even if opponent died in such situation you don't get win.

> You can't win king vs king+pawn ever

Pawns can get promoted, so there are are many king vs king + pawn positions that are a win for the player having the pawn.

Re: “Death” one of 5 ways to lose at Chess, according to PGN standard

#52

Post by KineticLensman »

JonathanMerklin wrote: post #22
ivalm wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, as they can no longer complete the current turn. Traditionally chess is played with time limits, so it makes sense that death causes the current turn, and only the current turn, player to lose.

I propose the alternative that death is instant disqualification regardless of game state, which incentivises murder as a strategy and adds an additional psychological tax but also a necessity to resolve disputes in a way that really makes the Han/Greedo distinction an important one and would make for a fun "spaghetti western involving but not necessarily for intellectuals" flick. (EDIT: I hope the jest is clear. Mur…

> spaghetti western involving but not necessarily for intellectuals

It would have be scored by Ennio Morricone, who was passionate about chess: "When I was a kid I had two ambitions, to become either a physician, or a chess player, not a musician." [0]

[0] https://www.chess.com/blog/RoaringPawn/in-memoriam-ennio-mor...

Re: “Death” one of 5 ways to lose at Chess, according to PGN standard

#53

Post by phonebucket »

This occurred in a game of mine.

I play(ed) international correspondence chess. The games can go on for years. In one of my games, my opponent sadly passed away. The game was adjuticated to a draw nine months after we had started.

I did not have much personal connection with my opponent or interaction beyond our moves and an initial greeting, but it was obviously an extremely sad way for the game to end.

Edit: the termination string in my game was actually that of a draw by adjudication, but I do want to make it clear that a death during a chess game is not as uncommon as one might expect.

Re: “Death” one of 5 ways to lose at Chess, according to PGN standard

#54

Post by Ekaros »

Someone wrote: post #51
Ekaros wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Makes perfect sense. You can't win king vs king+pawn ever. As such even if opponent died in such situation you don't get win.

> You can't win king vs king+pawn ever Pawns can get promoted, so there are are many king vs king + pawn positions that are a win for the player having the pawn.

Point was that you having only king can't win against person with king+pawn ever. Even if such player was dead and thus played to lose.

Re: “Death” one of 5 ways to lose at Chess, according to PGN standard

#57

Post by toast0 »

Closi wrote: post #46
tedunangst wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like both players didn't die at the same time then.

I think there is an edge case where both people die at the same time, but one is about to make a move and drops the piece as they die, and it lands on the board. Is that move valid? Or not as they are already dead when it lands?

Only the other player can challenge a move as illegal, right? If they're dead, they won't challenge and won't move, and thus lose?

Re: “Death” one of 5 ways to lose at Chess, according to PGN standard

#60

Post by im3w1l »

MerelyMortal wrote: post #18
lom wrote: post #15

Does this imply killing the opponent is a viable strategy in chess?

Technically yes, but it is likely not a lawful defense to murder.

Could it be possible to exploit differences in how death is defined? What if one were to stop the heart of the opponent, and then immediately resuscitate them?
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