Asymmetric reformulation of draw rules in chess and its implications for game theory: Repetition as loss for White

Chong Qi

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arXiv · 2604.03683

Asymmetric reformulation of draw rules in chess and its implications for game theory: Repetition as loss for White

Chong Qi

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Abstract

Repetition-based draw rules in deterministic games like chess ensure termination but introduce strategic artifacts, allowing players to enforce draws independent of positional value. We propose an asymmetric modification: threefold repetition results in a loss for White if it is responsible for initiating it. This rule directly targets the persistent first-move advantage and removes low-effort draw strategies available to White. The new rule is expected to reduce draw rates, re-balance first-move advantage, and promote exploration in both human and artificial play. We outline a computational framework with existing and newly designed neural-network chess engines for the empirical validation of the proposal and analyze it from the perspectives of game theory and graph dynamics.

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Chong Qi. 2026-04-04. Asymmetric reformulation of draw rules in chess and its implications for game theory: Repetition as loss for White. https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.03683

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