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?

The tactical offer of draw is a well known ploy.

Strong players use it when in trouble v a weaker player.
The weaker player can only see the grading points and agrees right away.

Offering a draw in a level postion throws the onus on the other player
to 'do something' and often the first player to think of plan losses.

There again refusing a draw in a level position has been known to upset the
draw offerer so much they in turn 'do something.'

Etiquette:
Offer a draw when it's your turn to move. Offer the draw and then make your move.

Your opponet can either accept it, decline it verbally or move.*
They can take as long as they like to accept or decline the draw offer.

(*Or you can laugh as FIshcer did v Geller when the latter offered him a draw.)

I take a picture,much easier.

Originally posted by Ajuin
I take a picture,much easier.

Originally posted by listener83
ba-dup ching
(rim shot)

It brought a smile to a very cold day in the shop.

Originally posted by greenpawn34

(*Or you can laugh as FIshcer did v Geller when the latter offered him a draw.)

No Geller made a funny move.

Just copied this from another site:

"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.

Paul