Since 2001, Steve Kanzer has led investment banking activities at Accredited Ventures, Inc., as chairman and chief executive officer. When not managing daily operations at the joint venture capital group, Steve Kanzer enjoys playing chess.
A game of chess can last anywhere from several minutes to multiple hours. A 1989 contest between Ivan Nikolic and Goran Arsovic, for example, lasted more than 20 hours and consisted of 269 total moves. In order to curb the length of games, modern chess implements a 50-move rule and a threefold repetition rule.
The 50-move rule is much more direct compared to the threefold repetition rule. In the game of chess, a move is considered complete after both players have moved a piece. Should 50 moves pass without a piece being captured or either player moving a pawn, the game should be ruled a draw.
The threefold repetition rule, meanwhile, can be declared if at any time the chess board’s positioning is identical following three complete moves. It should be noted that the board does not need to assume identical positioning on three successive moves, though this is most often the case, nor does the position need to be the result of the same moves by both players. Only the final position of the board matters.
It should also be clear that both the 50-move rule and threefold repetition rule are official regulations of the game. While recreational players can continue playing as they desire, an official game of chess ends once one player has declared a draw under either rule. The decision does not need to be unanimous.
A game of chess can last anywhere from several minutes to multiple hours. A 1989 contest between Ivan Nikolic and Goran Arsovic, for example, lasted more than 20 hours and consisted of 269 total moves. In order to curb the length of games, modern chess implements a 50-move rule and a threefold repetition rule.
The 50-move rule is much more direct compared to the threefold repetition rule. In the game of chess, a move is considered complete after both players have moved a piece. Should 50 moves pass without a piece being captured or either player moving a pawn, the game should be ruled a draw.
The threefold repetition rule, meanwhile, can be declared if at any time the chess board’s positioning is identical following three complete moves. It should be noted that the board does not need to assume identical positioning on three successive moves, though this is most often the case, nor does the position need to be the result of the same moves by both players. Only the final position of the board matters.
It should also be clear that both the 50-move rule and threefold repetition rule are official regulations of the game. While recreational players can continue playing as they desire, an official game of chess ends once one player has declared a draw under either rule. The decision does not need to be unanimous.