You got that right, buddy!  Gaining 1/2 a point is now part of the strategy, not an actual draw!  While I *DO* realize that top-level players are more likely to draw than others, simply because of their superior knowledge and calculation abilities, I *still* say that if they were forced to play at least 30 moves before conceding a draw, the games would simply have to be more interesting.

Another idea I heard from a buddy of mine is to make draws worth ZERO, or even -1, at the tournament level.  It's an interesting concept - I'm sure it's flawed somehow, but *something* has to be done to revive fighting chess.  Right?

I actually think that chess rules should be changed to require to play 40 moves before quitting or asking for a draw.

Under 20 moves at high level nothing basically happen, yes occasionally it does, at 30 moves the game is starting to be defined at 40 moves we are playing and end games most of the time.

Possibly a draw should be awarded 1/3 or 1/4 of a point to promote playing the game.

One idea I like and have seen used is to use most victories as tie break criteria, if still tied then most victories with black. In a 5 round event you have 2 players with 4-1 and one did it with 4 wins and a loss, the other did it with 3 wins and 2 draws then the guy who won 4 games wins on tiebreak. ( however, I think head to head result should be first criteria when two are tied, then wins and then black wins...... ) Sponsors pay out a lot of money to have events like Dortmund and the sponsoring chess federations. They should punish players who have short draws too often by simply not inviting them back.....

-1 points for a draw? When it's a drawn position, then you have to resign as fast as you can!

Yes, your point is a good one and well taken, but until there are actual rules in place to discourage this type of behavior, the GMs are not going to stop doing it.  FIDE needs to rethink some things and experiment with some changes.  I like the 40 move suggestion above - that would FOR SURE end the GM draw. 

Hey, if a game is drawn, it's drawn, I get that.  But even at the top level, blunders are made, and there is *NO* guarantee that both players will actually see the "drawish" line down to the move, 100% correctly.  One wrong step and a 2600 level player will demolish his or her opponent - which is what chess IS!

You, sir, just put the biggest smile on my face.  *claps*

Tonydal wrote:

No, I'm not a heeb (if that's what you're asking).

When I bring my barf bag for Fischer's comments, I'll be sure to include one for you, too.  It's amazing to me that you could condemn Fischer for the same view that you hold.

But to make a point--publish some games of yours that have a content approaching Fischer's skill, and I will treat you the same.  I'll admire your play and not your bias.  I'll take what I can use of your talent and leave the rest to others.  Perhaps, now you can understand what we are all talking about--we could all be abused by the press if it intruded into our lives as much as it did to Bobby.  And I excuse no prejudices; not from you, not from Fischer.  But I do understand the difference between the public and the private side of people.  And if Fischer had the extenuating circumstance of probable mental illness, I wonder:what is your excuse?

Should Marshall really be among those men? Didn't Capablanca regularly beat Marshall with comparative ease?

And where are Kasparov and Karpov in that list? Surely they are also in a different league to Marshall. Not saying Marshall wasn't great, but he wasn't in the same league as those other players.

I was just using these as examples of great players from the past, whom most people don't know what their personalities were like, but just know how great their chess games were because it is from a time long long ago. Fischer though mentally unbalanced outside of the chess world, will probably be remembered only for his greatness on the chess board 100 years from now. Years have a way of remembering good things & blocking out the bad.

I have a tinfoil hat here.  You want it?