A type of chess handicap where one player (Black in an Armageddon game) has only to draw in order to win the match.

During the 18th & 19th centuries, it was common to give odds in chess games, which means the practice of giving some advantage to the player with lesser skill. Odds giving can also be an interesting way to play with a computer program whose skill level differs from your own. You can also play the games in pairs, with the winner being the player who checkmates in fewer moves.

Types of Odds

These are various handicaps I have seen in actual games or chess books. They are in rough order of severity.

Move: Weaker player plays White.
Draw: The weaker player wins if the outcome is a draw under the usual rules.
Time: Weaker player receives more time on his clock.
2 Moves: Weaker player plays White and starts the game with 2 moves, which may not cross the 4th rank.
6 Moves: Weaker player plays White and starts the game with 6 moves, which may not cross the 4th rank.
Pawn & Move: The stronger player takes Black and removes the pawn at F7. This was the most commonly given odds during the 19th century.
Pawn & 2 Moves: The stronger player takes Black and removes the pawn at F7.
White makes 2 moves, neither of which may cross the 4th rank.
Knight: The stronger player takes White and removes his Knight at B1.
Rook: The stronger player takes White and removes his Rook at A1. His Pawn at A2 is moved to A3.
Rook & Move: The stronger player takes Black and removes his Rook at A8. His Pawn at A7 is moved to A6.
Rook & Pawn & Move: The stronger player takes Black and removes his Rook at A8 and his pawn at F7. His pawn at A7 is moved to A6.
2 Minor Pieces: The stronger player takes White and removes 2 of his Bishops or Knights, of his choice.
Rook & Knight: The stronger player takes White and removes his Rook at A1 and his Knight at G1. His Pawn at A7 is moved to A6.
2 Rooks: The stronger player takes White and removes both his Rooks.
Capped Knight: The stronger player takes White. He must deliver mate with his Knight that started at B1 or lose. The loss of the Knight or any normal draw situation results in a loss for the stronger player.
Queen: The stronger player takes White and removes his Queen.
Capped Pawn: The stronger player takes White. He must deliver mate with his Pawn that started at F2 or lose. The loss or promotion of the Pawn or any normal draw situation results in a loss for the stronger player.
Queen-side: The stronger player takes White and removes the pieces starting at A1, B1, C1 and D1.