The fifty-move rule
Either player may claim a draw if the last fifty moves by each side have had no capture and no pawn move. The game is not drawn until the claim is made, or until a player claims it on the move that completes the count.
The count resets to zero after every capture and every pawn move. Checks do not reset it.
Fifty moves means fifty by White and fifty by Black: 100 half-moves with no capture and no pawn move.
The short line on this page does not reach fifty moves. Each rook move in it would add to the count, because no pawn moves and nothing is captured. A real claim needs the full count.
On the board
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Starting position.
Common mistakes
- Resetting the count on a check. Only a capture or a pawn move resets it.
- Thinking the game ends by itself in casual play without a claim. The rule is a claim. (Tournament clocks and some online sites claim it for you once the count is reached.)
- Counting fifty half-moves instead of fifty moves by each side.