CHESS FACT 29

Sofia-Corsica rules or New York rules? The Sofia rule is referring to the interdiction to offer a draw in less than 30 moves. The Sofia the anti-draw measure was adopted during the 2007 Mtel tournament in Sofia: “The players should not offer draws directly to their opponents. Draw-offers will be allowed only through the Chief-Arbiter in three cases: a triple-repetition of the position, a perpetual check and in theoretically drawn positions.”

Going back to 1924 at the famous New York tournament, one of the rules stated: “No player shall offer a draw to his opponent, and all such offers shall be made through one of the tournament directors. No draw may be agreed upon between the players before the 45th move unless the consent of one of the tournament directors.”