Breakdown of Я хотел было объявить шах, но был вынужден согласиться на ничью.
я
I
хотеть
to want
на
on, at / by (transport) / to (a place) / to (in answer to)
быть
to be
Questions & Answers about Я хотел было объявить шах, но был вынужден согласиться на ничью.
Why do we use был вынужден here to say "was forced"?
Вынужден is a short-form adjective meaning "forced" or "compelled." Because it acts as a short adjective and not a verb, it requires a linking verb to indicate tense. Here we use был to show the past tense (and to show that the speaker is masculine). To state what the person was forced to do, you simply attach the infinitive, which here is согласиться.
What does the word было add to the phrase хотел было?
Adding the particle было immediately after a past tense verb shows that an action was intended, almost started, but then interrupted or abandoned. Хотел было translates to something like "I had wanted to" or "I was about to," which perfectly sets up the contrast for the second half of the sentence where the speaker's plans are thwarted.
Why do we say согласиться на ничью instead of using the dative case for "agree to"?
While English says "agree to," the Russian verb согласиться requires the preposition на followed by the accusative case when you are agreeing to a proposal, a condition, or a specific outcome like a draw.
Why does the noun ничья (a draw) change to ничью in the accusative case, instead of taking a standard noun ending like -у?