Drawing Against Stronger Opponent After 1.e4

Hi, if I was going to play a game as Black against a stronger player and was looking for a draw what should I play against 1.e4? I thought of c6 and the Caro-Kahn but I'm not very familiar with the opening or positional play either.

The other option for a drawish game seems to be the Petroff Defence but White can avoid that with f4 and the King's Gambit.

I've never been much of a positional player but I know if I face a stronger opponent I will be totally killed off in a highly tactical game (my prefered style). I thinking cautiously playing for a draw is best.

Any tips on how I can do that?

Let look first at your Stats!

Draw-3%...

It speak well oneself! but Your Time outs are even more remarkable!

So, what you have to play VS strong Opponent? The Russian Roulette game!?

If you will play the Black Opening, that you do not know well, your Draw % may even decrease!

My Advice and Approach to you - do not think about an out come of the game, like it is not really as important, as most players think about!

Play the game, enjoy it! learn, think for both sides!

Make a fun! And Do not afraid anybody at www.chess.com to play and to win!

I hope, that my Advice may change your Attitude to toward the game, and for your own self esteem!

Greg

AWARDCHESS

Chess Champ of www.chess.com 2008, 2009.

All Time Leader at Tournament Point Leader board.

Current Leader of www.chess.com 2010.

May God Motivate you on highest level of Thinking, evaluation, execution!

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Actually, I've read and it makes a lot of sense that tactics and attack is a great way to play against a stronger opponent. At least unless a win is only as good as a draw. If you think about it, everyone makes mistakes and people even make serious blunders. If you're in a really tactical position they may miss it. Sure you may lose quicker, there's a lot more chance of a strong player making a tactical mistake or blunder than there is of them making anti-positional moves or just getting slowly outplayed positionally. I know when I lose or draw a weak(er) opponent it is usually because of tactics. This is especially true if you are a tactical player normally. For a draw you often have to be accurate for a long time at our level.

That said, I'm really curious about that question myself 

OTB I played the Pirc, the French, the CK, several Sicillians, and 1. - e5 (2. Nf3 Nc6).

I think 1. - e5 is hardest to beat if (and only if!) you play the minor lines (2 Knights, Scotch, Vienna etc) actively (always look for chances to play d7-d5!) and fight the Ruy in the most solid way. That may be the Zaitsev or, if you want to avoid the Exchange and early d4-lines, the Berlin.