I'm playing a game against a somewhat lower rated player. I admit to stupidity for not taking the game seriously and I went and got too aggressive. My opponent survived my impetuous attack, and we arrived at a  point at which I could have forced a draw (I think).

I was under the impression that losing to him/her would cost me as many rating points as a draw and so I decided to continue instead of trying for the draw. Am I wrong? Saying there's 100 points between two players how much would the higher rated player lose in a draw vs. a loss?

You would have lost less points with the draw.

Losing almost always, if not always, causes a loss of more rating points than a draw.

Though, with a 100 point difference, it's a smaller difference between the two than with someone MUCH lower rated than you.

You can click on show ratings adjustements under the details tab and it will tell you exactly what you want to know.

Thanks all. Seems no way to exactly predict, but if the going looks bad I guess in the future I'll take that draw.

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some players sometimes perform 200 rating points higher than their current rating. therefore if you think you are losing trying for the draw is nearly always the right thing to do. play the position - not the other persons rating.

this video may be the right for you

http://www.chess.com/video/player/member-analysis-highly-instructive-criticism

A draw will raise your rating if it is vs a higher rated player.

A draw will lower your raiting if it is vs a lesser rated player.

A draw will not effect your rating if the other person has a very close rating to yours.

Ratings works with the your expected score, which is the average score you're expected to get against someone with that rating over many games.

Say you have a higher rating than your opponent and your expected score against him is 0.75 (his expected score against you is 0.25).

Also, assume there is some factor C, which is a number that depends (in chess.com's system) on how accurate both ratings are considered to be and maybe other things. Let's say it happens to be 20 for this game.

Then your rating change is your actual score, minus the expected score, times 20.

So if you win, it's (1-0.75)*20 = +5. Draw, (0.5-0.75)*20 = -5. Lose, (0-0.75)*20 = -15.

Obviously, there is a great difference between drawing and losing. The difference is the same as between drawing and winning (and half the difference between losing and winning).

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Thank you very much, that was exactly what I was looking for. Much appreciated.

 

@Bobbydk - thank you as well, I watched the video and understand your comment. Play the game, not the rating!

A draw is better than a loss, and in the rating system it is interpreted that both sides played equally well for that particular game. Obviously, to lose implies things much worse, and so your rating suffers more for it.

A draw affects your rating dramatically. While you would think a loss would be more traumatic, the reality is that your rating becomes so used to it that it is desensitized. Draws, however, are somewhat rare on internet chess and your rating's psyche has little defense against the emotional damage a draw can cause. I suggest years of therapy and medication to restore what little we can of your rating's former self.

Are there any prescription drugs that might help?

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Sounds hopeless. I'm going to Walmart to buy a new one....

Hi... I was wondering does it matter how the draw was made ( draw from repetition or from an offer /acceptance) , are all draws equal in terms of points lost and gained etc?    And from what I remember, it doesn't matter who offers the draw? (there is no advantage as to who claims the draws /offers/accepts, as both will lose/gain the exact points no matter how the draw was created?). 

So, from what I have read so far ...if you are gonna lose a game it is best to try to get a draw from the other player? and if they don't accept the draw, try to force them in repetition moves? is that correct? ...seems unfair?

All draws are equal, and of course it's better to force a draw if you can.

Bingo.

if there is no winning chances for you then you should simply force the draw. do you have dynamic compensation or weaknesses to attack? do you think you have a position? you should think about these to makee your crucial decisions.

Is your rating affected the same if you accept an offered draw, or if the draw is forced? In a recent game I was unsure whether it would be better for me to continue being forced into it, or to offer a draw myself as the end was clear.

Your rating is affected the same. No matter how the draw occurs, it's still a draw.