Why is this not a draw?

It’s barking at the moon.

Here a FIDE-related rule is used as well as playchess, FIDE server and so on.

Remedy: use increment or play in the US or on US servers. Good luck and goodbye

The key point here is you flagged. Given different norms chess with clocks and no increment one could be forced to play until someone flags even if checkmate is impossible. Time is part of the game. The fact that if you flag and your opponent cannot checkmate it gets you a draw and not a loss is rules following very strict logic.

This makes sense, even your argument for the bishop makes some sense. But, the rules are not unfair. They don't care about emotion, it's possible for that guy with the bishop to put you in checkmate within the rules of the game therefore, if you flag and he can checkmate you within the game rules you lose because of your flag the same as in any other position where he can possibly checkmate you. This makes perfect sense, he can checkmate you therefor your flag is your loss.

The previous posters showing games where people flag even though they couldn't possibly lose on the board... (key point here is they can lose and so can you to that bishop this is the point they were making)

Lone Bishop against two pawns, White to move:

lichess.org/editor/6k1/4p2p/7B/3K4/8/8/8/8 w - -

Thanks for your two cents. And Just because its FIDE doesn't make it right. And increment doesn't solve a draw.

Sargon - I take it back. I didn't think the mate was possible. Thanks for showing.

Good example Sarg0n, I wonder how that position would work in USCF rules? If I am black and white plays Ke6 can I wait for my time to run out and claim a draw?

Why do people think that the rules of one single country should have greater weight in internet chess (by definition international) than the official world-wide rules?

@Keru Only played uscf a bit in high school. I would hope that if black just lets his clock flag an arbiter would have the option of determining whether checkmate is possible with the position and ruling the game a win for white.

:after 15 minutes of reading the rulebook, I haven't come to this exact scenario, but from a few similar things the arbiter has a lot of authority on declaring a draw or win in positions like these. Obviously white would claim a win, and I think the arbiter would agree therefore it's likely a win under uscf rules. (unless there's something else in the rulebook that counters this)

This is also why a bishop with no real mating chances is declared a draw, because there is no reasonable way checkmate can be achieved (this turns those earlier positions where pawns exist but no real chance of winning into potential draws, but I don't think that would actually be the case)

#18 Under USCF rules not only is a minor piece without mating chances a draw... also a minor piece (even with forced mate in 1) is also a draw! Perhaps some future revision of USCF rules will fix this and a couple other loopholes.

Lichess' goal isn't to implement FIDE rules, although those rules are quite good. A player capable of checkmate should not be denied a win when the opponent's flag falls.