Depends who you are drawing against I guess. If it's to players you should be beating then that's not good. A couple of times in my school chess I gave draws to bad players in won positions thanks to time pressure. But of course if they are as you say in games which are lost at one point that's good.
Originally posted by XanthosNZAll are over 1500, two are nearly 1800 😀 I nearly resigned 4 of those games but managed to squeeze a draw out of them. It's almost as fun as winning when you realize you haven't lost! 🙂
Depends who you are drawing against I guess. If it's to players you should be beating then that's not good. A couple of times in my school chess I gave draws to bad players in won positions thanks to time pressure. But of course if they are as you say in games which are lost at one point that's good.
Originally posted by marinakatombSurprisingly I find myself enjoying draws more than losses or wins.
All are over 1500, two are nearly 1800 😀 I nearly resigned 4 of those games but managed to squeeze a draw out of them. It's almost as fun as winning when you realize you haven't lost! 🙂
I don't really know why.
Good topic. I've pulled quite few games out of the frying pan recently. And I've also thrown a few games away. Generally, many players resign too soon.
A good player with a bishop or knight advantage should win, but it is by no means certain. Pawn count and structure is just as critical.
A rule of thumb on whether to resign or not is to mentally remove everything from the board except kings and the material differential. If that is insufficient to ensure defeat, then play on.
On the other hand, a more than 5 point (ie a rook, or a bishop/knight and two pawns) deficit against a good opponent is a hopeless case.
I don't know why, but I have never offered a draw to an opponent, unless I have previously turned down an earlier draw offer. Maybe it is because I really enjoy endgames, whether I'm winning them or not.
Although I have accepted draws many times, I have also turned them down several times and gone on to lose. Sad, but true.
Does an increase in draws means you are playing better? At our level, I doubt it. Take a look at Ironman's record. Not too many draws there. I always think a win and a loss is better than two draws. I think we should always play to win, and only when winning is out of the question should we be aiming to avoid defeat. Drawing, itself, should never be the primary objective.
Originally posted by gumbieI shall do my best to draw against you then.
Surprisingly I find myself enjoying draws more than losses or wins.
I don't really know why.
Actually when I first started I thought draws were'nt that impressive, but I'm beginning to see that they are good. I had a lost position in a game a week ago. I played it to a draw this morning. I notice as I improve I draw more also. It is a win in itself to take a lost game to a draw.
Nyxie
Originally posted by NyxieI've realised that drawing really saves your rating. my mission for the last year has bee to get above 1600 and stay there. In the last month or so i've drawn about 10 games that i would otherwise have lost. I nearly have half as many draws as losses now, im sure that's what is making the difference.
I shall do my best to draw against you then.
Actually when I first started I thought draws were'nt that impressive, but I'm beginning to see that they are good. I had a lost position in a game a week ago. I played it to a draw this morning. I notice as I improve I draw more also. It is a win in itself to take a lost game to a draw.
Nyxie
Originally posted by GatecrasherAlthough I have accepted draws many times, I have also turned them down several times and gone on to lose. Sad, but true.
Good topic. I've pulled quite few games out of the frying pan recently. And I've also thrown a few games away. Generally, many players resign too soon.
A good player with a bishop or knight advantage should win, but it is by no means certain. Pawn count and structure is just as critical.
A rule of thumb on whether to resign or not is to mentally ...[text shortened]... ion should we be aiming to avoid defeat. Drawing, itself, should never be the primary objective.
Oh, don't talk to me about that 😞. I play OTB for my local club. This season we started a new team which i play for. We play each team in the league twice. One club we beat 4-1 at home, the only loss being on board two. The guy playing was competent in all areas of the game, but not exceptional in any. When we played the return match i ended up playing him. I managed to exchange knight for rook after 15 moves and everything was going smoothly. I then went on to hand the exchange back in a blunder, my opponent offering me a draw STRAIGHT AWAY! Of course by now i felt i could beat him, and for 50 moves i was, but he slowly out played me in the ending and i ended up looseing :'(😞. It was especially annoying as our team ended up loosing 2.5-1.5. We've won all of our games this season, except this one, and it's all because i didn't accept the draw 🙁
I doubt it. Take a look at Ironman's record. Not too many draws there. I always think a win and a loss is better than two draws. I think we should always play to win, and only when winning is out of the question should we be aiming to avoid defeat. Drawing, itself, should never be the primary objective.[/
Oh i totally agree. Winning is what everyone aims for (everyone but Petrosian maybe...). Im talking about games were you are down material or your pawn structure is shot to peices and your in a opposite coloured bishop ending. To save a lost case is a victory in itself! 🙂