Fortress
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortress_(chess)
How to draw games?
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Jan 8, 2022
0
#22
I'd recommend learning how to win first. Yes, it's useful to know the drawing procedures in particular endgames (especially in king & pawn and rook & pawn endgames), but knowing the winning positions will help you (1) win games and (2) thwart your opponents' attempts to simplify to winning endgames.
Jan 10, 2022
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#31
ChesswithNickolay escreveu:
PLAYERIII wrote:
What’s the best opening if you want to draw…
Vant Kruijs
Proofs:
The 2000 rated player tells you that that opening is not and that it is complete trash.
Some black people will play like if nothing had happened, like 1…e5 or 1…d5, and here you can try to draw a game. I know it’s completely hard to sustain yourself with it, but it’s the only opening I found that has a big chance of draw.
Jan 10, 2022
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#32
French players will rarely see the Exchange variation, so it isn’t easy to draw with it.
Jan 10, 2022
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#33
Temporary conclusion:
If you're White, and opponent plays the Slav, you play the exchange slav. GM Shankland calls it 'the dreadful Exchange Slav' - he Hates draws.
https://www.chessable.com/course/35319
He's both a strong player - above 2700, and a good teacher, highly recommended.
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If you're Black, and your opponent played 1.d4:
You go for the Slav, aiming for the 'Pure Slav' - taking the pawn - dxc4.
It dries the position immensely - no one can do anything that's effective.
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I think trying to draw when your opponent is 200 points higher, is normal, otherwise, it's cowardness. But that's an arbitrary assumpion of course.
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btw - there's a Youtube channel for chess.com, probably great videos there.
Jan 10, 2022
0
#34
It's not easy. One skill strong players develop is how to break down opponents looking for draws. Sometimes they'll even play "bad" moves if it gives them practical winning chances. Some rules of thumb apply when trying to draw (presumably a stronger player):
-Make equal trades, usually players looking to win avoid equal trades because the more the game simplifies the easier it is to draw. Just be careful trade hunting because this can be exploited. Also of course bad trades should be avoided.
-Avoid strategic complications, the more complicated the game, the more the class of the stronger player will show.
-Don't be passive. I feel like this is the number one mistake people who are trying to draw make. Stronger players will break you down. It's hard to force exchanges and endings when all you're doing is defending. Letting your opponent build an attack is bad for draws.
-Know your endings well. Really everything above is pointless if you can't draw the drawn endgame.
Jan 12, 2022
0
#36
jmpchess12 wrote:
Sometimes they'll even play "bad" moves if it gives them practical winning chances.
First, these are excellent rules of thumb, thank you very much for contributing to the thread!
About the quote above - I do think one should go for a draw, but rationally and not cowardly, so if he goes to play 'bad' moves, I think the right way is to switch to 'try to win' mode. complications? chess is like math - "All that matters on the chessboard is good moves." - Bobby Fischer.
If your opponent is a calculation-machine, okay, try to draw Anyways. But the vast majority of 'strong' players are really brut-force memorization-machines I believe:
https://lichess.org/nASOHEnl/black
Jan 12, 2022
0
#37
playing for a draw is a great way to drift into a passive, cramped position & lose.
instead, try to win every game by imbalancing the position early (a la silman) & fighting to the end.
suggestion: hit those survival rush puzzles hard & BECOME a master tactician... you'll thank me later!
Nothing like drawing 10 games in a row instead of winning.
Memorize opening moves in order to draw.
Puzzle rush in order to draw...sick!!! Which piece is best to give back to equalize advantage?
Jan 12, 2022
0
#39
nighteyes1234 wrote:
Nothing like drawing 10 games in a row instead of winning.
Memorize opening moves in order to draw.
Puzzle rush in order to draw...sick!!! Which piece is best to give back to equalize advantage?
i feel attacked lol
Jan 12, 2022
0
#40
The game is in its nature, a draw. If you don't exploit that, then you don't use the full potential. It's like using only one hand.
I don't play chess anymore, I play cheese - I play d4, and I overcome my opponents by the 'my comfort zone, not yours' "strategy". I admit - I suck as calculations, tbh, my opponents suck as them even more usually. the more you admit your weaknesses and you act according to this honesty, the more you'll succeed, in Everything in life.
Also, another life-advice, if it's not G-d's word, don't trust theories. - People are telling beginners to 'solve puzzles' all the time, practically, it leads Nowhere. Also 'e4 - Best by Test', according to My test, it's not best, best is d4. One insane genius of the past tells everyone what to do.. I don't like theories - try things for yourself - you'll get a completely different and more true picture. - One thing you can count on, is your own experience!
* he told me to solve rush puzzles in order to win, not draw. I solved 20 in a row - winning all of them. - They won't occure in real games - my opponents aren't stupid, and even if they would occure, it's because I out-positioned him. So why don't we tell beginners to learn positional play? hmm... "tactics flow from a superior position" - meaning, a superior position should be taught first. [I don't say it 'because Fischer said it', I just see it in games]
And I don't have a flag in real games telling me 'there's a tactic here!', so the whole thing is kinda bogus. and as I showed before - there's a GM (Akobian) teaching kids to play d4. So e4 for beginners isn't that holy.
How to draw as White, if Black plays 1...d5
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Taken from:
https://www.chessable.com/short-sweet-semi-slav/course/35319/
By GM Sam Shankland.
"The dreaded exchange Slav. For a long time, this line was almost exclusively chosen by those who were begging for draws with White, perhaps even prearranging the game, and on the whole, was the favorite of emotionally weak people for whom the fear of losing was stronger than the ambitious drive of trying to win. Undoubtedly such cowards still exist, but recently, the Exchange Slav has found a revival among ambitious players who are actually fighting for an opening advantage and not insulting Caissa by trying to gain a couple rating points when they force a draw with White. Among others, Alexey Dreev has been a big proponent of this strategy, and has even written an interesting opening book based on playing the Exchange Slav with White and fighting for an edge. Regardless of which category of opponent you are facing, I think the same psychology from Black's point of view has to be followed. Black should first look to equalize, and not fear a boring position. Against those with poor nerves or people who want draws with White to gain rating, they will very likely end up in a very boring, very equal position that still has a lot of pieces on the board. Then, they will have to contend with the pressure that they were trying to avoid by choosing such a lame line in the first place, and will likely start making mistakes. Conversely, players who are actually trying to fight in the Exchange Slav will likely mix things up early and take some risks on their own accord without you having to do anything special. "
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I'm a proud coward, I'll insult the deity, and will gain points!
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