<h2>Yes, a Draw is considered after 80 plies (40 turns).</h2>
<p>The rules says &quot;their own previous 40 moves&quot;, which is equal to 40 plies of each player.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://wcdf.net/rules/rules_of_checkers_english.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Definition of a Draw</a> <code>1.32.2</code>:</p>
<blockquote>
<ol>
<li>Neither player has advanced an uncrowned man towards the king-row
during their own previous 40 moves.</li>
<li>No pieces have been removed from the board during their own previous 40 moves.</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-11T19:06:41.673Z
2024-05-12T12:02:26.517Z
2024-05-12T12:02:26.517Z
Cohensius
<p>I'm working on a checkers software program and I need to implement the official rules including all possible draws. Following this <a href="https://wcdf.net/rules/rules_of_checkers_english.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">document</a>, at <code>1.32.2</code> it states that the game may end up in a draw, if:</p>
<ul>
<li>&quot;Neither player has advanced an uncrowned man towards the king-row
during their own previous 40 moves.&quot;</li>
<li>&quot;No pieces have been removed from the board during their own
previous 40 moves.&quot;</li>
</ul>
<p>As I understand it, a game can be declared draw after exactly 80 moves or 80 plies of neither player advancing. In my program's code I always reason about the game in terms of <em>plies</em>.</p>
<p>My question is: <strong>Did I understand this rule correctly?</strong> I have some slight doubts, because I know about the fifty move rule in chess and 50 plies seems reasonably, but 80 feels like too much. And I find the wording in the rules to be a bit weird. <strong>So a draw in checkers is considered after 40 plies or 80 plies?</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-12T07:23:10.067Z
Just to clarify the situation in chess. The 50-move rule is that a player may claim a draw after 50 *moves*, that is 100 *plies*, including the ply in the turn where they claim a draw.
Rosie F
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-12T09:30:39.220Z
@rosie I did not know that! Thank you! So the rule means 50 moves for each player, or is one _move_ considered a full turn (2 plies)? If the latter is true, then I find it very confusing.
Simon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-12T09:55:56.537Z
50 moves for *each* player, thus 100 plies (50 White alternating with 50 Black). In chess we number the moves like this: White's 1st, Black's 1st, White's 2nd, Black's 2nd and so on. *Not* White's 1st, Black's 2nd, White's 3rd, Black's 4th.
Rosie F
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-12T12:05:55.883Z
Indeed the notation of moves, turns and *plies* is confusing in many situations. 
 Sometimes also tricks, rounds and even games can be confusing.
Cohensius
<checkers>
Official draw rules in American checkers
Simon
# Official draw rules in American checkers

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-05-11)

I'm working on a checkers software program and I need to implement the official rules including all possible draws. Following this [document](https://wcdf.net/rules/rules_of_checkers_english.pdf), at `1.32.2` it states that the game may end up in a draw, if:

* "Neither player has advanced an uncrowned man towards the king-row
  during their own previous 40 moves."
* "No pieces have been removed from the board during their own
  previous 40 moves."

As I understand it, a game can be declared draw after exactly 80 moves or 80 plies of neither player advancing. In my program's code I always reason about the game in terms of *plies*.

My question is: **Did I understand this rule correctly?** I have some slight doubts, because I know about the fifty move rule in chess and 50 plies seems reasonably, but 80 feels like too much. And I find the wording in the rules to be a bit weird. **So a draw in checkers is considered after 40 plies or 80 plies?**

**Tags:** checkers

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Just to clarify the situation in chess. The 50-move rule is that a player may claim a draw after 50 *moves*, that is 100 *plies*, including the ply in the turn where they claim a draw.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I did not know that! Thank you! So the rule means 50 moves for each player, or is one _move_ considered a full turn (2 plies)? If the latter is true, then I find it very confusing.  
> **username_1**: 50 moves for *each* player, thus 100 plies (50 White alternating with 50 Black). In chess we number the moves like this: White's 1st, Black's 1st, White's 2nd, Black's 2nd and so on. *Not* White's 1st, Black's 2nd, White's 3rd, Black's 4th.  
> **username_2**: Indeed the notation of moves, turns and *plies* is confusing in many situations.   Sometimes also tricks, rounds and even games can be confusing.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2024-05-11. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

## Yes, a Draw is considered after 80 plies (40 turns).

The rules says "their own previous 40 moves", which is equal to 40 plies of each player.

From [Definition of a Draw](https://wcdf.net/rules/rules_of_checkers_english.pdf) `1.32.2`:

> 1. Neither player has advanced an uncrowned man towards the king-row
>    during their own previous 40 moves.
> 2. No pieces have been removed from the board during their own previous 40 moves.


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