The so-called "13-move rule" is a load of BS.

I still don't know from where this came. If you read all of the rules of chess, you will eventually come across a rule which very clearly states you have 50 moves to checkmate the opposing king before the game ends in a draw. Now, if for some reason you find yourself running out of moves, you can push a pawn or capture a piece if it is still possible. This resets the "clock".

I have had three occasions in which an opponent stated that I had 13 moves to checkmate the king. My response now would be, "Who taught you how to play (or not to play) chess?" Right after asking this silly question, I would show them the rule in an official chess rules book. Now, if people want to play with this false rule, I can't stop them...but I can refuse to play chess with them.

I suppose I need to calm down. I was a bit angry with my opponent the other day (we played an OTB game with no time limit). I did tell him that his rule was not really a rule--it is 50 moves, not thirteen. Anyway, I hope I did not come across as too bitter...the truth is I am still appalled by people who don't read the official rule book before claiming they know how to play. I don't seek to judge anyone (and indeed, I might be doing just what I hope to avoid). To be honest, I have a chip on my shoulder. I hope someday to laugh at my issues instead of grinding my teeth on them. Thanks for reading this. If anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to post them. For now, I am out of here... :)

Never heard of the 13 move rule

I'm not sure who came up with it. Maybe someone's dad or uncle invented it...the person in question didn't want to lose, so he told his younger opponent about it after the game was almost concluded.

Or maybe I am gullible beyond belief. I remember shouting at my opponent after he claimed the false rule. I am lucky no one threw me out. Anyway, I told him the number of moves was 50 and could be found in the U.S. Chess Federation rulebook. He said he didn't know anything about the U.S. Chess Federation...

I can't even imagine why someone would say that her/his opponent has only 13 moves to checkmate before the game becomes a draw. It seems foolish and unsportsmanlike.

Pretty sure Jason started it.

@DoomedBishop said in #1:

I still don't know from where this came. If you read all of the rules of chess, you will eventually come across a rule which very clearly states you have 50 moves to checkmate the opposing king before the game ends in a draw.

Huh? Never heard such rule.
What you have is a misunderstanding of a rule that has follow up.

It is true that you have 50 moves to win, else its a draw. But there is some context to it, you have to make progress.
With progress, it means that you either have to do a forward pawn move or a capture. Any of those 2 scenarios reset the move count to 0.

So, nobody is counting moves early in the game because you have to make pawn moves and captures to be able to navigate the board and open the position. And thus, resetting the move count to 0 every other move.

Once you reach the endgame, usually around move 30-50 is when the rule starts to make sense, as the few pawns that remain are already interlocked and cannot advance, but are difficult, if not impossible to take as they are protected and/or are unreachable by either side, and either side cant mate or make progress to win the game. So you have 50 moves to find a way to make progress (remove a pawn, or remove the defender of the pawn so you can reach it) and try to win the game, else, the game will go forever.

But its not just a "50 move rule"

Over the years, I have heard several variations of this and other rules. 21 is a popular number.

what the heck !?

it's not ' ' so-called ' '.

it doesn't exist.

there hasn't ever been such a rule.

there's nothing to discuss.

all such futile chat does nothing but cost energy, electricity, precious lifetime. i wish i had never clicked this unreal thread

And even after 50 moves, it's not an automatic draw - one of the players has to correctly claim it. If no one does, play can continue for another 25 moves. After 75 moves without pawn move or capture the arbiter has to declare it a draw.

@DuMussDieUhrDruecken said in #8:

i wish i had never clicked this unreal thread

And yet you took the effort to reply....