It's pretty hard to reach Petroff from 1.d4.

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 That's a pretty good point.

No Fear!

Be the next you!

Play exactly what Adamperfection would play against 1.d4.

yes

this will sound weird and quite honestly it's not that drawish ... BUT ... the Grunfeld (if you want Nf6) MIGHT give you a good shot.  Judging by your style you want to be dictating the game, and you want to be doing it while being objectively sound.

 

... I know when I play d4, I hate facing the Grunfeld... as black, I play it.

 

If you want to learn and still have drawing chances :P... the Grunfeld is great.

 

However you want to draw (not a bad goal regardless of what most will tell you... just make sure you're making the best, not the most passive, moves).  So here's my thoughts:

 

Everyone including the top Gm's in the world, make mistakes in every game.  Any non-master (yourself and your opponent included) is likely to make a rather significant mistake.  You mentioned your opponent is not the greatest endgame player in the world.  And so logically, you want to reach an endgame as soon as possible.  Then these 'significant' mistakes are actually likely to be your opponents. 

The quickest way to make it to the endgame safely? Theory!  It would therefore make logical sense to opt for a line thick with theory.  Pick one very balanced and you should have no trouble. 

My suggestion: Semi-slav

Reason: Many semi-slav lines go upwards of 20 moves deep.  With the amount of theory you can find on the mainlines (despite having a slightly tactical nature in some lines) the odds are your opponent doesn't know it all.  And even if he does much of the theory takes you practically all the way to the endgame.  If he doesn't, you suddenly have winning chances.  Of course endgames are thoroughly complicated too so don't waste time so long as you're still 'in book'. Keep in mind this will take you quite a while to memorize so give yourself a couple hours a day... took me about 3 hours just to get the mainlines (meran and anti and such) and all the viable transpositions memorized.

Best of ... chess :P

-matt

 

Edit- just noticed the match your'e talking about is well over.  My advice still applies but  lest  Iook like more of an idiot than I need to I just wanted to point out that I finally noticed :P.  Ps- How'd the game go?

Lasker defense in the QGD.

It is madness to try to learn an entire new opening for a single game. Doubly so when it's just because that opening is reputedly "drawish".

Infinitely so when the player is below master level, so that "drawish" is pretty much meaningless anyway, and opening preparation is pretty much useless.

It sounds like you played him before. Why not spend the time figuring out what you should do differently this time? And go for a win -- draws are rare.

scarblac in the game the colours were reversed from what i thought so i played white, he played the old indian, which i hadn't prepared for, but i got a decent game out of the opening, kingside vs queenside expansions, i didn't have the courage to sack material for an attack which chessmaster thought should of done and i missed the draw at the end, but i was pleased with my play considering he said i player at around 1800 strength in the game.

how did you do?

The thing about QGA is 3.e4 leading to sharp play and the Tarrasch can be met with a rare gambit line 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e4 which can get very sharp but I doubt many play this. You could probably find something in the 1.d4 d5 department though.