Playing for a draw

I recently read that a good way to frustrate a stronger opponent is to play a drawish positional game when he just wants to finish you off quickly since he knows he's stronger.

Unfortunately I've always been a tactical player myself, so I'm not familiar with positional principles and openings.

What would you recommend against 1.e4? The favourite opening for tactical players with the white pieces. I had thought of Petroff's Defence but White can easily dodge that with 2.f4 bring on the kill-or-be-killed positions of the King's Gambit.

What would you recommend?

Play 1...d6!

Play it on any White first Move!

If you have a weak Positional understanding, -do not go over to fight for an open cental positions, where you have no choice to resist on correct evaluations and calculations...

Hold on on 6 line!

Develop, and Hold on, until the right moment happen to break on the 5 line!

Thank you for your advice.

As you gently pointed out, my time-out rate is atrocious. I was playing too many games at once and I have since learned that I need to cut back on the number of games I play at once.

When I said I wanted to play for a draw I meant that I wanted to play safety-first instead of taking an attacking approach.

Thanks again, d6 sounds like a good idea.

The more close your Pawns stays to your Pieces on 8 line, the more safe they are!

Hold a line on 6 with 4-5-6 Pawns and Pieces!

And develop and wait when your Opponent will start ruch on your 6 line defense!

Kick back, and hit back, where the Attacker break the rules of wisely playing...

Tactical Abilities are determine most results on closer range of fight!

Good advice up there. ^ Just try to build up a solid position. If you find yourself defending from an attack, close up as many lines as you can with your pawns and pices. Clamp down on all the major "arteries" (ranks, files, and diagonals) as you can wiht superior piece placement.

I believe that a 1...d6, 1...g6, or 1...e6 defense is possible against any White opening. It's not very aggressive, but the lines that develop from these moves are mostly vauge as far as theory goes, so Black can put up a very tough fight.

I would recommend 1...e6 or 1...c6. The French or the Caro-Kann. These two openings have a reputation of being very solid