Once one player has only his king left, how many moves are allowed
before the game is declared a stalemate?
Please specify whether you mean moves in total or moves for each
player (or is that the same thing?).
Thanks for your help... I've been confused about this rule for years,
Belgianfreak

There is no material to mate...if there are only kings left it is a
draw..automatically...although in a game once Bobby Fischer made
two more moves with just his king...really ticked his opponent off.

Dave

I'm sorry, I probably haven't made myself clear.

I am under the impression that there is a rule that states that once
ONE player only has his king left (the other player has king + at least
one more piece) there are only a certain number of moves allowed by
each player before the game is declared a stalemate - even if the
other player technically could still achieve checkmate.

Is this true, does it apply here, and if so how many moves are
involved?

Belgianfreak

this is true n i believe u have 20 moves until its declared a draw n this
r all ur moves not between the 2 but im not sure if it applys here.

I don't know if you you're trying to be "trendy" by liberally interspersing your
posts with one letter abbreviations, and omitting all punctuation. But the net
result is that your posts are unnecessarily difficult and irritating to read. Of
course, as almost no one enjoys having their grammar critiqued, I'm sure this
observation will fall upon deaf ears.

difficult n irritating to read? i dont see how it can be difficult. im not in
a grammer test or anything n i dont see how this affects u at all!

Not exactly.

The game _is_ drawn (i.e. no claim required) if no series of legal
moves can lead to checkmate. E.g. K and N versus K is automatically
drawn. K and N versus K and N is not automatically drawn, since
checkmate is still possible with legal (but stupid) play.

The game _may be_ drawn (i.e. a player may claim) if 50 moves have
been made without a pawn move or piece capture (regardless of the
material held by each side). If a player doesn't claim, the game
continues.

Neither of these situations is stalemate.

For exact details, see the FIDE Laws of Chess:

http://handbook.fide.com/handbook.cgi?level=E&level=E1&level=01&

Sean, I understand it is 50 moves per player, right?

I believe it is 50 half moves. Which is 25 moves per players.

50 moves are equal to 100 half moves. Jan

Greetings:
Well, you have 50 moves in the rules. Be it King and a piece, against
King and Piece...or King and a piece against a lonely King. Basically
you have 50 moves in which to get the result. You should study, basic
endgame finishing. Try against a friend and play King and Queen
against the same...or King and Queen against King and Rook. You
can try whatever variation you want on that. It is 50 moves per
player...but saying that, most players wouldn't need that!! I hope that
helps.
Slan...
Imp..

thanks to all for clarifying this for me. as you might be able to tell,
I´venever read a chess textbook in ,y life - I play for the fun without
getting too serious (so far)
In "real life" I´ve had some players claim that you only have as little
as 10 moves - not enough to advance a pawn and then pin their king
in a corner

Greetings:
No...you have 50 moves...after that it is declared stalemate!! You can
run around the board...two versus two in the middle; never, never
retreat to the corners...keep your king in the centre!! Don't be pushed
back...don't fall for skewers were you move your king, thus giving
access to your rook, queen...whatever!! Even in the end game, control
the centre...but, when you meet somone as good as you...take the
draw!! Do you really want to play it out?? In training...yes, have fun!!
Only play it if you are sure you can win!!
Slan...
Imp..

A draw can be claimed once there is insufficient mating matertial left.

Stalemate is a totally different thing.It is when you have no move possible but
you have not been placed in check.Some brilliant draws have occurred around this
theme.