Sofia Rule

The Sofia Rule restricts very early agreed draws. A draw is a tied game result. When the rule applies, players may not offer or accept that result by agreement until the game reaches the minimum number of moves stated in the event announcement.

The threshold is not universal. An organizer sets a particular move number for the competition, so the rule's name alone does not reveal when draw offers become legal. Players must consult the specific tournament regulations.

The restriction concerns voluntary agreement. It does not force a game to continue after the laws of chess have already produced a draw. One example is stalemate, where the player to move has no legal move but the king is not in check. Other automatic or forced draws may also occur. The practical purpose is to prevent short agreements, not to remove the drawn result from chess.