From 10acef9e6f2d1f56a39c7f4b9ccf4b4be6f8bed7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Scott Gasch Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2016 19:04:57 -0700 Subject: A bunch of chess-related papers. --- rules and standards/FiftyMoveRule | 39 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 39 insertions(+) create mode 100755 rules and standards/FiftyMoveRule (limited to 'rules and standards/FiftyMoveRule') diff --git a/rules and standards/FiftyMoveRule b/rules and standards/FiftyMoveRule new file mode 100755 index 0000000..cbc465e --- /dev/null +++ b/rules and standards/FiftyMoveRule @@ -0,0 +1,39 @@ +From: hwr@intercal.com (Hanon W. Russell) +Newsgroups: rec.games.chess +Subject: History of the 50-move rule +Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1992 + + +A reader has inquired about the history of the 50-move rule, +wondering if the move was put into effect in response to a +"proof" in the 1930's that allegedly demonstrated that without +the rule, infinitely long games were possible (we assume that +this implied the best possible moves by both sides). Although +we are decidedly non-mathematical (we are known to break out +with severe cravings for ice cream and and hot fudge when +subjected even to the threat of exposure to math books) we +undertook a bit of historical research. The source, the newly +released second edition of Whyld and Hooper's magnificent +tome "The Oxford Companion to Chess" (which by the way, shall +be duly reviewed here, possible when we finish this hot fudge +sundae...) + +>From OCC: "The law existed in shatranj [whose golden age was +the 8th-9th centuries, A.D.- HWR] as a 70-move version, and +since then the intention has always been the same, that is, to +counter the obstinacy of one who continues playing in an unwinnable +position. In 1561 Ruy Lopez said that 50 moves was enough, but +Carrera thought this too generous and that 24 moves was right. On +the other hand LaBourdonnais argued for 60 moves. By the 19th +century a request for a count could be made only in specific +endgames (not always the same in the various sets of laws). The +count began only when the claim was made and was not annulled +by a capture or a pawn move. Anomalies could arise such as if +the queen were captured near the end of a 50-move count in an +endgame K+Q v. K+R the result would still be a draw if mate was +not effected in the remainder of the fifty moves. The laws used +at London 1883 tournament stated that a pawn move or a capture +annulled the count, but did not offer retrospective counting when +the claim was first made." + +HWR -- cgit v1.3