Stalemates and forcing draws are pretty important imo as someone who dosen't play and only watch. It's gave the game a twist that let the losing player a way to fight back from a loosing position to a draw (that feels like a win).

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They are an important part of the game, but they aren't a good twist. If you got rid of stalemate, then the losing player would just resign. Nothing wrong with that in a game that's effectively over.

[–] MufinMcFlufin 2 points 11 hours ago

The reason I think stalemate makes the game more interesting is it gives an out to the losing player.

Suppose a game where black just lost their last piece (outside of the king). With the stalemate rule, white still needs to be careful and skillful in executing their checkmate to actually win the game. Giving black some way even in a losing situation to get theirself into a better outcome than a flat out loss. It allows more opportunities for games to reach their natural conclusion in a way that still allows both players to do something to get a better outcome.

And I don't know about you, but I think a game that could end up as a draw right up until the end is a more interesting game to play and much more entertaining to watch than watching 30 turns of white maintaining an early all the way to the midgame when black decides it's just a waste of time at this point and resigns.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 day ago

I can understand that if you don't play the fucking game you don't mind the trapped safe king.