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Rule Zero. A base or starting rule set for most Chess variants.[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]

Mike Nelson wrote on Mon, Sep 30, 2002 02:38 PM UTC:

I still wonder about repetition=loss if stalemate is a win.  I can see why
this applies when stalemate is the only objective as in Nemeroth.  I also
use the rule in Separate Realms, where checkmate is the primary objective
and stalemate is a win because the nature of the pieces make mates
difficult. 

In reality, the rule has litte effect, but I have a couple of games on
file where avoiding repetition required one side to make an unsound attack
from a symmetric position and thus lose. In FIDE chess, the player could
and would choose to make the repetiton and take the draw. 

I think I prefer the latter outcome in these cases, but this is a question
of personal chess philosophy--while I deplore excessive numbers of draws,
I believe it is good that a very well-played game by both sides can end in
a draw. I can, however, understand and respect the opposite viewpoint.