resign vs draw
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Draw.
It's a bit hard to imagine that one would offer a draw to an opponent who is facing overwhelming odds.
There have been recent threads concerning resignation vs. fighting on to the death. However, IMHO, failure to resign in the face of overwhelming odds is certainly the greater breach of chess etiquette.
I'd say that offering a draw would be the most direct insult of the two, and I would find it more annoying. People might have valid reasons for declining to resign (mostly they still feel there is something to learn, they want to give the opponent the satisfaction of a checkmate, or there is time pressure). Offering a draw however doesn't serve any purpose and is just annoying.
Hmm... good question. Keep in mind that resignation is essentially an admission that checkmate is inevitable. Even if you're losing badly, it's perfectly ok to keep playing if there is still some chance of winning or salvaging a draw. In a situation where there is no realistic hope of either of these things, resigning is good sportsmanship.
Offering a draw at any time is acceptable. However, repeatedly offering a draw (say, every couple moves) is considered to be "distracting your opponent" - which is against the rules of chess. There are many situations where one side is winning by a significant margin (e.g., he's ahead by a piece) but it's possible for the disadvantaged side to force a draw. For example he might be able to trade down into a K vs K+N situation, which would be a draw; or, he might be able to force a draw by 3-fold repetition. Offering a draw before going ahead and forcing it would be perfectly fine.
I once got myself sternly lectured to for offering a master a draw in a bishop-of-opposite-colors endgame where I was a pawn down. So now I will not offer a draw until it is unmistakably obvious and 100% proven.
Offering a draw. If a person desires to be checkmated, it is ethical and not in the least bit disrespectful. In my case, I prefer to resign what I feel is out of my reach, so I can try something new instead of the birdbrain move that got me into trouble in the first place. I agree with Ricardo - I have only offered one draw on this sight, and my opponent PROVED he could draw it before I did that. I have declined draws, not out of disrepect, but because I wanted to keep playing, even if the draw might have been healthier for my rating. I don't mind to lose sometimes, as long as I have fun.
Come to think of it, I'd say the worst is people refusing to accept a draw in a clearly drawn position. E.g. in a Live game with lots of time left for both of us, my opponent once refused a draw offer in this position:
Recently I tried to offer draw (es experiment;) in several games where my position was definitely winning. Only one declined such offer, but three accept it ;) (this example is rather different to topic's questions, though)
My answer on topic's questions - none. This is a game. Tal said: "If you see your mistake, don't hurry to resign (or despond, I don't remember exact words) - maybe your opponent don't see it so good as you do" ;) In backgammon when I expect my win I double the game (I try to do it before my opponent will see it too). If someone play chess for result and see that his winning chance is gone - this is not necessarily that his opponent see this too, so he offer a draw and if opponent accept it then opponent's vision is weaker - draw is fair ;)
draw, though both are annoying
they still won't resign??
I would definately say offering a draw when facing overwhelming odds. Like others have said, it's annoying.
lanceuppercut_239 wrote:
Come to think of it, I'd say the worst is people refusing to accept a draw in a clearly drawn position. E.g. in a Live game with lots of time left for both of us, my opponent once refused a draw offer in this position:
yep it is a draw
Jul 19, 2008
0
#14
I played a game just earlier today where my opponent offered a draw three times. Once after I put him in check. Once after I took his Queen (which he begged me not to do with a message). Once when it was obvious he couldn't win. All within about five moves. When I refused a draw, he told me he would just deliberately waste my time by only making one move a week. Finally, he just resigned after I didn't respond to his threats and complaints.
That kind of behavior is far worse than simply playing out a losing game. Sometimes people just want to learn from their mistakes and want to play it out.
Jul 19, 2008
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#15
I actually get a kick out of offering draws to people when I am in the won position... most decline... it's just like a reflex.
Anyways on topic: Failing to resign in a drop dead obvious position (my argument being that someone at a high level in CC should NEVER be stalemating an opponent) is really annoying but even worse would be a draw offer... that's just stupid.
I would say offering a draw.
Jul 20, 2008
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#17
Both could come across as insulting at a competitive level. At a lower level, you would probably assume that your opponent simply hasn't grasped that he is losing.
Offering a draw after every consecutive move is insulting at any level though.
Gonnosuke, I agree with you ;)
I will never offer a draw when my oppenent have a big advantage because it's like stupid and i know that 99.99% of people won't accept draw if their have a big advantage.......And your oppenent will laugh of your draw....It's like your stupid to offer a draw when your oppenent clearly have big advantage..
Which of these two behaviours (if either) would you regard as the greater breach of chess etiquette:
- declining to resign when facing overwhelming odds
- offering a draw when facing overwhelming odds