Answers.Body: <p>The commenters seem to agree unanimously&mdash;and please pardon the necessary formalism!&mdash;as follows:  Quintuple repetition arises when, and only when, the position on the chessboard is the same after moves <em>n,</em> <em>n+2,</em> <em>n+4,</em> <em>n+6</em> and <em>n+8</em> for any nonnegative <em>n,</em> where <em>n</em> need not be an integer but <em>2n</em> is indeed an integer.</p>
  
  <p>For example, quintuple repetition arises if the position is the same after 31.5, 33.5, 35.5, 37.5 and 39.5 moves&mdash;that is, if the position is the same after White's 32nd, 34th, 36th, 38th and 40th moves.  Whether positions after 38, 38.5 and/or 39 moves happen also to repeat earlier positions is irrelevant to the rule.</p>
  
  <p>The example given in the question is indeed a draw by quintuple repetition.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-09-17T14:03:39.563Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-09-17T14:03:39.563Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: thb
Answers.Body: <p>First note that your link to Geurt Gijssen. Arbiter's Notebook. is broken. ChessCafe.com have put almost all their stuff behind a paywall.</p>
  
  <p>The purpose of this rule and of the related 75-move rule (after 75 moves with no captures or pawn moves the arbiter can / must step in and declare a draw) are for the benefit of arbiters. In summary they are the "I've got a home to go to and a warm bed waiting for me" rules. The key point here being that these two rules do not require a player to make a claim but instead the arbiter can intervene to stop the game.</p>
  
  <p>Your example is not a draw under the rule. Here is how it works:</p>
  
  <p>White's alternate moves must be identical.
  Black's alternate moves must be identical.
  For 5 consecutive, alternate White's turns the position must be identical.
  For 5 consecutive, alternate Black's turns the position must be identical.</p>
  
  <p>If that gobbledygook sounds confusing here is an example of a drawn game under the new rule:</p>
  
  <p>1) Nc3 Nc6
  2) Nb1 Nb8
  3) Nc3 Nc6
  4) Nb1 Nb8
  5) Nc3 Nc6
  6) Nb1 Nb8
  7) Nc3 Nc6
  8) Nb1 Nb8
  9) Nc3 Nc6
  10) Nb1 Nb8
  11) Nc3 Nc6</p>
  
  <p>Note that after Black's 4th move White could have claimed a draw under the 3-fold repetition rule and after White's 5th move either player could claim a draw on their turn. </p>
  
  <p>If either player deviates from the strict repetition then the conditions are not fulfilled. For instance if White's 3rd and 4th moves are Nf3 and Ng1 then the strict sequence required for the satisfaction of the rule is broken.</p>
  
  <p>Note that the rule says "for at least five consecutive alternate moves by <strong>each</strong> player". If it said "either player" instead of "each player" then the position and sequence in question would be a draw. But the example fails because it is only identical before alternate White moves and not before alternate Black moves.</p>
  
  <p>Since 3-fold repetition draws can only be claimed when the moves are recorded they cannot normally be claimed during rapid and blitz games. The new rules allow the arbiter to intervene and stop the game provided he has witnessed and noted the moves and continue with the next round or go home to bed.</p>
  
  <p>30/12/2014: There were two International Arbiters at our club annual rapid championship last night. I asked one of them and he was very clear. The rule:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>the same position has appeared, as in 9.2b, for at least five
    consecutive alternate moves by each player.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>according to him means that after 5 alternate white moves the position must be the same in the meaning of 9.2b and after 5 alternate black moves it must be the same in the meaning of 9.2b and that this sequence of moves must be consecutive i.e. the first repeating black position must come immediately before or immediately after the first repeating white position and not part way through the sequence.</p>
  
  <p>PS It's probably worth noting the answer he gave to a supplementary question.</p>
  
  <p>Question: What happens if after one player wins through resignation / checkmate / flag fall it is discovered that there was an earlier 5 fold repetition? Should the result be changed to a draw?</p>
  
  <p>Answer: Emphatically no. Just as the 3 fold repetition rule is for the benefit of the players, they may choose to claim by it or not at the specific time the incident occurs, so is the 5 fold repetition rule for the benefit of the arbiter, he may choose to enforce it or not at the time the incident occurs. He may not enforce it retrospectively. The win stands.</p>
  
  <p>Edit: Well, it seems that the IA I consulted was wrong. Hidden away in section 6.2a of the FIDE Handbook it says this</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>A move is also completed if: 1.the move ends the game (see Articles
    5.1.a, 5.2.a, 5.2.b, 5.2.c, 9.6a, 9.6b and 9.7)</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>9.6a and 9.6b are the two new draw rules, 5-fold repetition and 75 moves with no captures or pawn moves. So, they are elevated by this throw-away clause to the same level as checkmate, stalemate, resigns and agreed drawn. The arbiter has no more choice than he does with checkmate, etc.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-08T15:39:40.677Z
Answers.Text: Could you give any reference or other reasoning why you think your interpretation is correct and the interpretation agreed by many in the currently accepted answer and in the comments is incorrect?
Answers.UserDisplayName: JiK
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-08T15:43:52.520Z
Answers.Text: Fortunately old columns in Arbiter's Notebook are still available at Archive.org: https://web.archive.org/web/20140714190611/http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm#An%20Arbiter%27s%20Notebook
Answers.UserDisplayName: JiK
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-08T15:46:15.483Z
Answers.Text: Moving a Knight does not alter castling rights, so the position after 4th move in your example is the same as the starting position.
Answers.UserDisplayName: JiK
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-10T16:24:41.610Z
Answers.Text: @JiK Many thanks for the archive.org link. Noted and bookmarked. re: castling rights. You are absolutely correct. I've edited my post. re: interpretation. That was my interpretation. My club has 2 AIs. I'll be seeing one of them in 3 weeks time when I either play in (preferable) or deputy-arbiter the club's annual blitz championship. I'll ask him then and either report back or delete my post. My initial reaction was that I prefer my interpretation (less for me to think about as an arbiter) but on reflection I prefer the original one above.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-10T17:46:08.783Z
Answers.Text: @BrianTowers What in Rule 9.6a (or elsewhere) do you see as requiring that "White's alternate moves must be identical" and "Black's alternate moves must be identical"? 9.6a just says "the same position has appeared, as in 9.2b, for at least five consecutive alternate moves by each player".
Answers.UserDisplayName: dfan
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-13T09:53:22.833Z
Answers.Text: @dfan The question is if the same position has occurred on 5 even consecutive moves but not on 5 odd consecutive moves for each player if this satisfies "at least five consecutive alternate moves by each player". In other words does "consecutive alternate moves" mean both the odd and even moves or just the even moves.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-13T11:59:17.813Z
Answers.Text: @dfan Let me suggest an alternative wording which will make it clearer perhaps. "The positions immediately before and immediately after alternate white's moves must give two sets of identical positions". Play through the example given in the diagram and you will see that this clearly does not apply. It fails on the positions when it is Black's turn because White's bishop is on different squares.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-13T15:35:29.217Z
Answers.Text: @BrianTowers Thanks. I still disagree but at least I can understand your argument now.
Answers.UserDisplayName: dfan
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-15T07:11:25.167Z
Answers.Text: @fan Note the rule is "the same position has appeared, as in 9.2b, for at least five consecutive alternate moves **by each player**". The position must repeat on 5 alternate White's moves and 5 alternate Black's moves. Rereading my previous comment it is not quite correct. It should be that it fails on Black's position because either White's bishop is on different squares or Black's bishop is.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-23T23:10:34.787Z
Answers.Text: +1 This is precisely the sort of answer I was looking for. I doubt that the answer is quite right, but it is detailed, honest and helpful, and suggests that the wording of the FIDE rule may be unclear.
Answers.UserDisplayName: thb
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-08T15:14:41.917Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-06-27T20:20:43.363Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2015-06-27T20:20:43.363Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Answers.Body: <p>During the FIDE refresher course for International Arbiters, it has been strongly recommended to apply this rule very strictly. Which means that IA are strongly encouraged to change an already signed result if it is later discovered that a quintuple repetition has occurred. </p>
  
  <p>After a quintuple repetition, the game is drawn without any formality, no claim is required. The game is also implicitly over, meaning that all that happens after is irrelevant. For the 75 moves draw, if there is a mate, it will prevail. </p>
  
  <p>If the result reported by the players is anything other then a draw, this means that both players have, wilfully or not, signed a wrong result. This situation is governed by Article 8.7   </p>
  
  <p>At the conclusion of the game both players shall sign both scoresheets, indicating the result of the game. Even if incorrect, this result shall stand, unless the arbiter decides otherwise.  </p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-15T20:40:43.213Z
Answers.Text: Interesting points, but this does not seem to address the question which asks what actually constitutes a 5-fold repetition.
Answers.UserDisplayName: JiK
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-14T04:46:29.920Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-02-14T04:46:29.920Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Canadian IA
Answers.Body: <p>In the Jan 2018 Laws (and indeed the previous version too, but that's history) the rule is replaced with:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>9.6.1 [The game is drawn if] the same position has appeared, as in 9.2.2 [Draw by Repetition] at least five times.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>And the game ends immediately, like mate, pat, dead position &amp; 75 moves. So this issue is resolved. I do feel that, little by little, the FIDE Laws are improving.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2018-03-05T18:04:40.283Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-03-05T18:04:40.283Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Laska
Answers.Body: <p>The only question is whether the same position has occured ( = the FEN notation would be the same) multiple times ( = five different # of moves apply to the same position). Nothing is said about move sequences.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-17T15:01:19.573Z
Answers.Text: In the 2018 rules this is true. In the 2014 rules, the five times repetition mentioned "consecutive alternate positions" while the threefold repetitition rule didn't, and that led to this confusion.
Answers.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-07-17T14:42:25.130Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-07-17T14:42:25.130Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ferazhu
Answers.Body: <p>The rule is there to stop players playing on repeating the position ad infinitum. Threefold repetition has to be claimed by a player, an arbiter can step in to end the game in a draw after fivefold repetition.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-15T19:32:56.547Z
Answers.Text: Eg ninefold repetition http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1504097
Answers.UserDisplayName: magd
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-15T20:42:50.283Z
Answers.Text: The question is about the (seemingly?) ambiguous wording of the rule (e.g. "consecutive alternate moves"), and your point has been mentioned in earlier answers.
Answers.UserDisplayName: JiK
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-15T21:20:31.203Z
Answers.Text: Well I don't really understand the reasoning behind the question if its not about how it applies in practical play.
Answers.UserDisplayName: magd
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-15T19:21:15.683Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-02-15T19:21:15.683Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: magd
Answers.Body: <p>this seems to be quite academical, because after 6... before intending Bc8 which would get into a threefold repition of position the black player may request a draw.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-10T22:21:02.910Z
Answers.Text: The new draw rules were added in order to allow arbiters to step in for example in school tournaments where players don't necessarily know all the rules and don't always know to request a draw. Those situations are not very academical.
Answers.UserDisplayName: JiK
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-15T12:21:56.900Z
Answers.Text: The question was indeed meant to be academical.  It seems to me that @JiK has a point, though.
Answers.UserDisplayName: thb
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-24T07:12:05.340Z
Answers.Text: @JiK I disagree. School tournaments are unlikely to be held under FIDE rules for all sorts of reasons. No, the point of the rule is that in Blitz and Rapid it is much more difficult for a player to claim and indeed both players may want to play on for whatever reason. This new rule allows an arbiter to step in and continue with the next round.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-24T09:56:02.113Z
Answers.Text: @BrianTowers In Finland, they are. I don't know about other countries, so I made assumptions based on what I know. But it seems that you are correct; blitz and rapid seem to be much more common reasons given for the new rule.
Answers.UserDisplayName: JiK
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-10T21:57:51.340Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-11-10T21:57:51.340Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Knightshift
Body: <p>How does the new quintuple-repetition rule work, please?</p>
  
  <p>To be clear: my question does not concern how likely the rule and its cases are to arise in practical play, but rather just what the rule is, in cases in which it might theoretically apply.  Technically precise answers which (i) illuminate possible misunderstandings and (ii) consider edge cases merit extra appreciation.</p>
  
  <p>Also, if you happen to know:  Have authors, masters and/or tournament directors concurred (to the extent to which they care) in the meaning of the new quintuple-repetition rule?  Or does the rule as written admit technical ambiguity?</p>
  
  <p>References:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><a href="http://www.fide.com/component/handbook/?id=171&amp;view=article" rel="noreferrer">FIDE.  <em>Laws of Chess,</em> July 2014.</a>  Refer especially to sect. 9.6.</li>
  <li><a href="http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm#An%20Arbiter%27s%20Notebook" rel="noreferrer">Geurt Gijssen.  Arbiter's Notebook.</a></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE: EXAMPLE</strong></p>
  
  <p>In light of @dfan's comment, an example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Title "White to move, illustrating sect. 9.6"]
  [FEN "2b2rk1/5ppp/8/8/8/8/5PPP/2B2RK1 w - - 0 1"]
  
  1. Bb2 Bb7 2. Bc1 Bc8 3. Ba3 Ba6 4. Bc1 Bc8 5. Bd2 Bd7 6. Bc1 Bc8 7. Be3 Be6 8. Bc1 Bc8
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Drawn?  Why or why not?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-07-17T14:59:15.420Z
Comments.Text: Reading this years later: in the 2018 rules, this whole ambiguity is gone, and the question isn't relevant anymore. It now just refers to the same definition as for the three times repetition rule, just without claims.
Comments.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-08-28T14:37:36.397Z
Comments.Text: At first I thought this question was trivial as the rule was completely clear. Now that I've actually read it, I don't even understand what it's trying to say; a position can't repeat itself for consecutive moves, let alone five times.
Comments.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-08-28T15:03:44.900Z
Comments.Text: @RemcoGerlich The rule refers to "consecutive _alternate_ moves". The only possible reading I see of this (and clearly what was intended) is that they are referring to comparing the position after a player's _n_th move and after his _n+1_st move. I encourage you to reinstate your deleted answer, with the addition of "in a row" after "five times".
Comments.UserDisplayName: dfan
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-08-29T01:45:00.640Z
Comments.Text: To write clear rulebook language seems to be hard.  Experience teaches that, when rulebook language is unclear, two players may come to opposite conclusions as to what the language means, *each of the two players completely convinced that his own is the only possible interpretation.*  I do think that I understand what the quintuple-repetition rule means, but what good does this do me if others understand the rule differently?  Thus the question.
Comments.UserDisplayName: thb
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-08-29T14:54:34.193Z
Comments.Text: @dfan:  I have added an example that isolates the specific point your comment makes.  When you have time, your further remarks, or an answer, would be read with interest.
Comments.UserDisplayName: thb
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-08-29T15:05:20.373Z
Comments.Text: @RemcoGerlich:  Thank you for your comment re quintuple repetition, which I have read with interest.  I gather that you have posted then deleted an answer, but I did not happen to see your answer while it remained visible!  I have recently added an example to the question.  When you have time, would you look at the example?
Comments.UserDisplayName: thb
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-08-29T15:05:32.207Z
Comments.Text: (Note that I should have said "n+2" in my above comment, not "n+1".) In my opinion your new example is a clear draw by rule 9.6a (the same position has occurred after Black's 0th, 2th, 4th, 6th, and 8th moves), and I would be curious to hear any argument to the contrary.
Comments.UserDisplayName: dfan
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-08-29T15:08:08.383Z
Comments.Text: @DavidRicherby:  If you had time and had anything to add, I would be interested to hear your thoughts regarding the quintuple-repetition question.
Comments.UserDisplayName: thb
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-09-02T12:20:14.663Z
Comments.Text: @dfan:  Your reticence to add an answer to the quintuple-repetition question is seemly, but RemcoGerlich has not accepted your invitation to restore his answer.  There is no rush, but if you upgraded your comment to an answer when you had time, then I would naturally upvote it, and *accept* it too if no other answer intervened.
Comments.UserDisplayName: thb
Tags: <rules><fide><draw><fivefold-repetition>
Title: Quintuple repetition and the FIDE's 2014 rulebook revision
ThreadText: # Quintuple repetition and the FIDE's 2014 rulebook revision
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-28)
  
  How does the new quintuple-repetition rule work, please?
  To be clear: my question does not concern how likely the rule and its cases are to arise in practical play, but rather just what the rule is, in cases in which it might theoretically apply.  Technically precise answers which (i) illuminate possible misunderstandings and (ii) consider edge cases merit extra appreciation.
  Also, if you happen to know:  Have authors, masters and/or tournament directors concurred (to the extent to which they care) in the meaning of the new quintuple-repetition rule?  Or does the rule as written admit technical ambiguity?
  References:
  
  FIDE.  Laws of Chess, July 2014.  Refer especially to sect. 9.6.
  Geurt Gijssen.  Arbiter's Notebook.
  
  UPDATE: EXAMPLE
  In light of @username_2's comment, an example:
  [Title "White to move, illustrating sect. 9.6"]
  [FEN "2b2rk1/5ppp/8/8/8/8/5PPP/2B2RK1 w - - 0 1"]
  
  1. Bb2 Bb7 2. Bc1 Bc8 3. Ba3 Ba6 4. Bc1 Bc8 5. Bd2 Bd7 6. Bc1 Bc8 7. Be3 Be6 8. Bc1 Bc8
  
  Drawn?  Why or why not?
  
  **Tags:** rules, fide, draw, fivefold-repetition
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: At first I thought this question was trivial as the rule was completely clear. Now that I've actually read it, I don't even understand what it's trying to say; a position can't repeat itself for consecutive moves, let alone five times.  
  > **username_2**: @username_1 The rule refers to "consecutive _alternate_ moves". The only possible reading I see of this (and clearly what was intended) is that they are referring to comparing the position after a player's _n_th move and after his _n+1_st move. I encourage you to reinstate your deleted answer, with the addition of "in a row" after "five times".  
  > **username_0**: To write clear rulebook language seems to be hard.  Experience teaches that, when rulebook language is unclear, two players may come to opposite conclusions as to what the language means, *each of the two players completely convinced that his own is the only possible interpretation.*  I do think that I understand what the quintuple-repetition rule means, but what good does this do me if others understand the rule differently?  Thus the question.  
  > **username_0**: @username_2:  I have added an example that isolates the specific point your comment makes.  When you have time, your further remarks, or an answer, would be read with interest.  
  > **username_0**: @username_1:  Thank you for your comment re quintuple repetition, which I have read with interest.  I gather that you have posted then deleted an answer, but I did not happen to see your answer while it remained visible!  I have recently added an example to the question.  When you have time, would you look at the example?  
  > **username_2**: (Note that I should have said "n+2" in my above comment, not "n+1".) In my opinion your new example is a clear draw by rule 9.6a (the same position has occurred after Black's 0th, 2th, 4th, 6th, and 8th moves), and I would be curious to hear any argument to the contrary.  
  > **username_0**: @DavidRicherby:  If you had time and had anything to add, I would be interested to hear your thoughts regarding the quintuple-repetition question.  
  > **username_0**: @username_2:  Your reticence to add an answer to the quintuple-repetition question is seemly, but username_1 has not accepted your invitation to restore his answer.  There is no rush, but if you upgraded your comment to an answer when you had time, then I would naturally upvote it, and *accept* it too if no other answer intervened.  
  > **username_1**: Reading this years later: in the 2018 rules, this whole ambiguity is gone, and the question isn't relevant anymore. It now just refers to the same definition as for the three times repetition rule, just without claims.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 7 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2014-09-17. Score: 3 | Accepted answer
  
  The commenters seem to agree unanimously—and please pardon the necessary formalism!—as follows: Quintuple repetition arises when, and only when, the position on the chessboard is the same after moves *n,* *n+2,* *n+4,* *n+6* and *n+8* for any nonnegative *n,* where *n* need not be an integer but *2n* is indeed an integer.
  
  For example, quintuple repetition arises if the position is the same after 31.5, 33.5, 35.5, 37.5 and 39.5 moves—that is, if the position is the same after White's 32nd, 34th, 36th, 38th and 40th moves. Whether positions after 38, 38.5 and/or 39 moves happen also to repeat earlier positions is irrelevant to the rule.
  
  The example given in the question is indeed a draw by quintuple repetition.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2014-12-08. Score: 4
  
  First note that your link to Geurt Gijssen. Arbiter's Notebook. is broken. ChessCafe.com have put almost all their stuff behind a paywall.
  
  The purpose of this rule and of the related 75-move rule (after 75 moves with no captures or pawn moves the arbiter can / must step in and declare a draw) are for the benefit of arbiters. In summary they are the "I've got a home to go to and a warm bed waiting for me" rules. The key point here being that these two rules do not require a player to make a claim but instead the arbiter can intervene to stop the game.
  
  Your example is not a draw under the rule. Here is how it works:
  
  White's alternate moves must be identical.
  Black's alternate moves must be identical.
  For 5 consecutive, alternate White's turns the position must be identical.
  For 5 consecutive, alternate Black's turns the position must be identical.
  
  If that gobbledygook sounds confusing here is an example of a drawn game under the new rule:
  
  1) Nc3 Nc6
  2) Nb1 Nb8
  3) Nc3 Nc6
  4) Nb1 Nb8
  5) Nc3 Nc6
  6) Nb1 Nb8
  7) Nc3 Nc6
  8) Nb1 Nb8
  9) Nc3 Nc6
  10) Nb1 Nb8
  11) Nc3 Nc6
  
  Note that after Black's 4th move White could have claimed a draw under the 3-fold repetition rule and after White's 5th move either player could claim a draw on their turn.
  
  If either player deviates from the strict repetition then the conditions are not fulfilled. For instance if White's 3rd and 4th moves are Nf3 and Ng1 then the strict sequence required for the satisfaction of the rule is broken.
  
  Note that the rule says "for at least five consecutive alternate moves by **each** player". If it said "either player" instead of "each player" then the position and sequence in question would be a draw. But the example fails because it is only identical before alternate White moves and not before alternate Black moves.
  
  Since 3-fold repetition draws can only be claimed when the moves are recorded they cannot normally be claimed during rapid and blitz games. The new rules allow the arbiter to intervene and stop the game provided he has witnessed and noted the moves and continue with the next round or go home to bed.
  
  30/12/2014: There were two International Arbiters at our club annual rapid championship last night. I asked one of them and he was very clear. The rule:
  
  > the same position has appeared, as in 9.2b, for at least five
  > consecutive alternate moves by each player.
  
  according to him means that after 5 alternate white moves the position must be the same in the meaning of 9.2b and after 5 alternate black moves it must be the same in the meaning of 9.2b and that this sequence of moves must be consecutive i.e. the first repeating black position must come immediately before or immediately after the first repeating white position and not part way through the sequence.
  
  PS It's probably worth noting the answer he gave to a supplementary question.
  
  Question: What happens if after one player wins through resignation / checkmate / flag fall it is discovered that there was an earlier 5 fold repetition? Should the result be changed to a draw?
  
  Answer: Emphatically no. Just as the 3 fold repetition rule is for the benefit of the players, they may choose to claim by it or not at the specific time the incident occurs, so is the 5 fold repetition rule for the benefit of the arbiter, he may choose to enforce it or not at the time the incident occurs. He may not enforce it retrospectively. The win stands.
  
  Edit: Well, it seems that the IA I consulted was wrong. Hidden away in section 6.2a of the FIDE Handbook it says this
  
  > A move is also completed if: 1.the move ends the game (see Articles
  > 5.1.a, 5.2.a, 5.2.b, 5.2.c, 9.6a, 9.6b and 9.7)
  
  9.6a and 9.6b are the two new draw rules, 5-fold repetition and 75 moves with no captures or pawn moves. So, they are elevated by this throw-away clause to the same level as checkmate, stalemate, resigns and agreed drawn. The arbiter has no more choice than he does with checkmate, etc.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: Could you give any reference or other reasoning why you think your interpretation is correct and the interpretation agreed by many in the currently accepted answer and in the comments is incorrect?  
  > **username_4**: Fortunately old columns in Arbiter's Notebook are still available at Archive.org: https://web.archive.org/web/20140714190611/http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm#An%20Arbiter%27s%20Notebook  
  > **username_4**: Moving a Knight does not alter castling rights, so the position after 4th move in your example is the same as the starting position.  
  > **username_3**: @username_4 Many thanks for the archive.org link. Noted and bookmarked. re: castling rights. You are absolutely correct. I've edited my post. re: interpretation. That was my interpretation. My club has 2 AIs. I'll be seeing one of them in 3 weeks time when I either play in (preferable) or deputy-arbiter the club's annual blitz championship. I'll ask him then and either report back or delete my post. My initial reaction was that I prefer my interpretation (less for me to think about as an arbiter) but on reflection I prefer the original one above.  
  > **username_2**: @BrianTowers What in Rule 9.6a (or elsewhere) do you see as requiring that "White's alternate moves must be identical" and "Black's alternate moves must be identical"? 9.6a just says "the same position has appeared, as in 9.2b, for at least five consecutive alternate moves by each player".  
  > **username_3**: @username_2 The question is if the same position has occurred on 5 even consecutive moves but not on 5 odd consecutive moves for each player if this satisfies "at least five consecutive alternate moves by each player". In other words does "consecutive alternate moves" mean both the odd and even moves or just the even moves.  
  > **username_3**: @username_2 Let me suggest an alternative wording which will make it clearer perhaps. "The positions immediately before and immediately after alternate white's moves must give two sets of identical positions". Play through the example given in the diagram and you will see that this clearly does not apply. It fails on the positions when it is Black's turn because White's bishop is on different squares.  
  > **username_2**: @BrianTowers Thanks. I still disagree but at least I can understand your argument now.  
  > **username_3**: @fan Note the rule is "the same position has appeared, as in 9.2b, for at least five consecutive alternate moves **by each player**". The position must repeat on 5 alternate White's moves and 5 alternate Black's moves. Rereading my previous comment it is not quite correct. It should be that it fails on Black's position because either White's bishop is on different squares or Black's bishop is.  
  > **username_0**: +1 This is precisely the sort of answer I was looking for. I doubt that the answer is quite right, but it is detailed, honest and helpful, and suggests that the wording of the FIDE rule may be unclear.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2015-02-14. Score: 2
  
  During the FIDE refresher course for International Arbiters, it has been strongly recommended to apply this rule very strictly. Which means that IA are strongly encouraged to change an already signed result if it is later discovered that a quintuple repetition has occurred.
  
  After a quintuple repetition, the game is drawn without any formality, no claim is required. The game is also implicitly over, meaning that all that happens after is irrelevant. For the 75 moves draw, if there is a mate, it will prevail.
  
  If the result reported by the players is anything other then a draw, this means that both players have, wilfully or not, signed a wrong result. This situation is governed by Article 8.7
  
  At the conclusion of the game both players shall sign both scoresheets, indicating the result of the game. Even if incorrect, this result shall stand, unless the arbiter decides otherwise.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: Interesting points, but this does not seem to address the question which asks what actually constitutes a 5-fold repetition.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2018-03-05. Score: 2
  
  In the Jan 2018 Laws (and indeed the previous version too, but that's history) the rule is replaced with:
  
  > 9.6.1 [The game is drawn if] the same position has appeared, as in 9.2.2 [Draw by Repetition] at least five times.
  
  And the game ends immediately, like mate, pat, dead position & 75 moves. So this issue is resolved. I do feel that, little by little, the FIDE Laws are improving.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2020-07-17. Score: 1
  
  The only question is whether the same position has occured ( = the FEN notation would be the same) multiple times ( = five different # of moves apply to the same position). Nothing is said about move sequences.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: In the 2018 rules this is true. In the 2014 rules, the five times repetition mentioned "consecutive alternate positions" while the threefold repetitition rule didn't, and that led to this confusion.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2015-02-15. Score: 0
  
  The rule is there to stop players playing on repeating the position ad infinitum. Threefold repetition has to be claimed by a player, an arbiter can step in to end the game in a draw after fivefold repetition.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_8**: Eg ninefold repetition http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1504097  
  > **username_4**: The question is about the (seemingly?) ambiguous wording of the rule (e.g. "consecutive alternate moves"), and your point has been mentioned in earlier answers.  
  > **username_8**: Well I don't really understand the reasoning behind the question if its not about how it applies in practical play.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_9 on 2014-11-10. Score: -2
  
  this seems to be quite academical, because after 6... before intending Bc8 which would get into a threefold repition of position the black player may request a draw.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: The new draw rules were added in order to allow arbiters to step in for example in school tournaments where players don't necessarily know all the rules and don't always know to request a draw. Those situations are not very academical.  
  > **username_0**: The question was indeed meant to be academical.  It seems to me that @username_4 has a point, though.  
  > **username_3**: @username_4 I disagree. School tournaments are unlikely to be held under FIDE rules for all sorts of reasons. No, the point of the rule is that in Blitz and Rapid it is much more difficult for a player to claim and indeed both players may want to play on for whatever reason. This new rule allows an arbiter to step in and continue with the next round.  
  > **username_4**: @BrianTowers In Finland, they are. I don't know about other countries, so I made assumptions based on what I know. But it seems that you are correct; blitz and rapid seem to be much more common reasons given for the new rule.  
  
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