I've been playing chess for about 24 years now, but only recently online. I never took advantage of drawing when playing IRL, but playing rated games online I've started using drawing the same way I use the doubling cube in backgammon.
I'm curious if anybody has any thoughts about using drawing as a tactic. Also, what does a draw say to you about a player? Are there any forms or conventions about offering a draw? Should there be?
Originally posted by listener83 I've been playing chess for about 24 years now, but only recently online. I never took advantage of drawing when playing IRL, but playing rated games online I've started using drawing the same way I use the doubling cube in backgammon.
I'm curious if anybody has any thoughts about using drawing as a tactic. Also, what does a draw say to you about a player? Are there any forms or conventions about offering a draw? Should there be?
I have heard before in game analysis, he is threatening a draw.
Yes and yes.
"Fischer's disdain for short draws is well documented, one of the most famous
examples being to laugh when Geller (who had a big plus score against Fischer at
the time) offered him a draw on move 7 in their game at the Sousse Interzonal."
See Game 29 Fischer's 60. Here are the first 7 moves. RJF was White.
I remember reading a quote from GM Ulf Andersson when he was rated in the top 4 in the world in the 1980's, after being asked what his secret was. He was well-known for drawing all the time. His response to keeping his rating over 2600 (very high back then) was
"I never lose. And 20% of the time I win!"
That idea has always stuck with me, even though I lack the temperament to perform that way.