How are chess games scored?
B · Beginner · Winning and drawing · 9 of 10A win scores one point, a draw half a point and a loss nothing, unless an event's regulations say otherwise. Results are written 1-0 for a White win, 0-1 for a Black win and ½-½ for a draw. A win by forfeit scores the same as a win over the board.
How it works
- Win: one point, including a win by forfeit.
- Draw: half a point each.
- Loss: no points, including a loss by forfeit.
- Other systems: an event may set its own, such as three points for a win and one for a draw.
- The cap: the total for a game can never exceed the normal maximum for one game.
- No odd splits: a score such as ¾ to ¼ is not allowed.
- Signing: both players sign both scoresheets, or approve the result on electronic scoresheets, to show the result.
- A wrongly recorded result: stands, unless the arbiter decides otherwise.
- Both can lose: two players who both persistently refuse to follow the Laws both lose.
The glossary has the scoring, the draw, the arbiter, the Swiss system, the Elo rating and the notation.
Tricky cases
A player's opponent does not turn up. Does the player get a full point?
Yes. A player who "wins by forfeit" scores one point.
Both players sign the scoresheets with the wrong result. Can it be corrected?
It depends. "Even if incorrect, this result shall stand, unless the arbiter decides otherwise."
Can a game end with one player on half a point and the other on nothing?
Yes, in exceptional cases. An arbiter may reduce the points of an offending player, so the two scores need not add up to one.
Can a game be scored 0-0?
Yes. If both players persistently refuse to comply with the Laws, the game is declared lost by both.
Why the rule exists
Half a point for a draw treats a drawn game as a shared win, which matches what happened on the board. Events that want more decisive games change the scale. The cap stops an arbiter's penalty from creating points out of nothing.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Default | 1, ½ and 0 | FIDE Laws 10.1 |
| Event regulations | May use another scale, such as 3, 1 and 0 | FIDE Laws 10.1; Glossary of Terms ("points") |
| Forfeits | Shown as +/- or -/+ and scored as a win and a loss | FIDE Laws 10.1; Glossary of Terms ("result") |
| Team events | Game points are added up to give a match result | See the team chess set |
From the rule book
FIDE, Laws of Chess (approved 7 August 2022, applied from 1 January 2023), Articles 8.7, 10, 11.7, 11.8 and 12.9 and the Glossary of Terms. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FIDE Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2023 (FIDE Handbook E.01).