Why Asking for a Draw is Wrong

 Yes and he is a young man,too. He'll understand how to accept a draw later on in life, when girls start to figure into the picture.

I hate taking draws in anything but a dead drawn position.

He's right

Draws are an essential part of chess.

Chess, unlike most other games, is unique because the use of a Draw can represent that neither side is superior to the other. We seem to get used to expecting that in all things that one particular side must be better than another particular side. In chess, if neither player can gain a significant advantage, capitalize on opportunities, give their opponent a remaining legal move (stalemate), or maintain enough material to effect a checkmate (referring to games drawn by insufficient material, such as King vs. King+Knight;  King vs. King+Bishop;  King vs. King+2Knights; etc.), then it is satisfying to know that neither side can walk away with a win. On the flip side, it's nice to know that just because you didn't win a game doesn't mean you have to necessarily lose.

That is not to say that draws or ties don't occur in other sports: of course they do. Take Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer, or Baseball for examples. The difference is that in these sports, there is ALMOST always Overtime, Shootouts, or Extra Innings to decide a "winner," even though they couldn't actually truly win in regulation time (or innings). My point is that Chess sees a much greater frequency of Draws because it doesn't force two players on any given day to express superiority. This is why a Draw is worth less than a Win (1/2 compared to 1 point). This is important because there is a tangible difference between a Draw and a Win that can boost a player's incentive to go for the win, but not penalize them with a Loss if they can't obtain a Win. 

The notion that chess players can agree to recognizing that neither one, (FOR THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION IN THAT GAME) can best the other, is a great form of "sportsmanlike compromise" that is a defining part of the great game of Chess.

Anyway, back to the original forum post, I do agree that asking for a draw (every single move) in a clearly lost position does not have a place in Chess Etiquette. However, that is one of the risks that Chess Players take when sitting down for a game. While we can enforce the Rules of Chess, Chess Etiquette is not something that one can enforce.

Certain things like... 1. Resigning 1 move before you're checkmated. 2. Asking for a Draw every single move. 3. Gloating over a Win

...are not looked upon favorably using Chess Etiquette. However, none of these things are actually prohibited by FIDE Rules. Therefore, the best we can all do is to hold our own standards as high as possible with Chess Etiquette, but be equally as tolerable of those who disregard it. Basically, just try to be the bigger person and show sportsmanship at all times. Don't get too hung up about other players' impoliteness or breach of etiquette.

There's a great story about Petrosian accepting a draw in a won position from a book I read recently. I'll post it if I find it.

Setting: Candidates matches for the 1972 World Championship.

"...the struggle was in fact not that peaceful. First Korchnoi held a certain initiative, then it passed to me [Petrosian]. Finally, I managed to win the ninth game. In the final, tenth game, I obtained a large plus, and offered a draw, but Korchnoi refused. As it turned out, the tension of the struggle was so great that my opponent did not realize how difficult his position had become. Later on Korchnoi's game became hopeless, and when the time for adjournment arrived, he addressed me in the following manner: 'I could resign here or agree a draw.' From a sporting point of view, a draw and a win had the same significance, so I replied 'Of course, a draw.'"

From 'Tigran Petrosian - His life and Games' by Vasiliev (1974 edition).

Usually it's because people (myself included... I'll admit it) are afraid of losing sometimes. And they care about rating too much. I kind of get it for OTB play, but online? That's stupid.

Of course a drawn position should be called a draw, and each player sent off with a half point. 

One thing that bothers me is when a player rated much below his opponent keeps offering the stronger player a draw.  The idea is supposed to be that if the stronger player wants the draw, he'll ask for it! 

Also, I believe that in online correspondence play it is much better to play until the position is "dead", not merely "equal".  You have long amounts of time to make your moves, so why not give the various imbalances some serious thought and fight it out to the end?  In OTB play, it is acceptable to offer a draw in many circumstances, though PLAYING for a draw is rarely a good idea.

On the contrary, in an otb competition pestering the opponent with draw offers every move will get you a visit by the arbiter/td, with a warning or penalty that includes loss of game.

As for resigning one move before checkmate: I know a high level game where the opponent allowed the mate, but that was extraordinary and merely personal choice. There is no ettiquite I know of requiring this among serious players, though it seems like an odd no-mans land as resignation ought to have been effected earlier.

Gloating over a win? Certainly that can be poor sportsmanship.

Although its slightly OT, the book also covers the accusations that were often levelled at Petrosian because of his tendency to draw a large number of games in each tournament. I'd recommend it as it's a really interesting read.

xouque 55 why do you think that in what you call "soccer" there is almost always "overtime" (extra time). Draws are a regular occurence in "soccer" (football) and always have been. It is only in knockout tournaments that extra time is used ( at least worldwide what happens in usa is not really well known outside of america.) A better example for your point would be tennis where all games are won or lost.

this topic deserves a lol

I'm not very good with endgame theory, so I've declined some theoritical draws saying that I just dont know if its a draw (the truth). Usually, that plays out a few moves and then my opponent shows and explains why its a draw. The good thing is I do learn something without having to read books.

+1

How pathetic.

Sorry about not including "extra time" when playing soccer. That slipped my mind but I was trying to get at more of the "sudden death" shootouts or penalty kick sequences that try to recognize a winner in a balanced competition in which neither side could claim superiority.

Often a draw is offered, when a draw is all that the superior side needs to win a match or a tournament.  It has happened often in World Championship matches.  In his first match for the World Championship against Alekhine, Euwe let it be known before the final game that he would accept a draw at any point.   Indeed Alekhine asked and received a draw in the final game where Euwe clearly had a won game.  There is also what is known as the Swiss Gambit, where in a Swiss tournament a strong player will offer a draw to a weaker one, so that the stronger player will get matched with weaker players in subsequent rounds.

what i am saying is extra time and penalties are only used in cup games but the vast majority of games are played in the league and if the game is equal after 90 minutes its a draw and the teams go home. 

Not at all. It's just that for a number of years (before he made a run at the title) his aim in most games was simply not to lose, which often meant that even in clearly better but difficult to win positions he would offer a draw (a bird in the hand and all that).

Suppose you are playing the last round in a tournament and are out of the running.  All your opponent needs is a draw to win the tournament.  You have the advantage in a very tough endgame.  You have a King, Queen, and pawn vs. King and Queen.  You know you have a theoretical win, but analyzing the position has given you  a migraine headache.  All you want to do is go home.   Is it ethical to agree to draw?

My opinon and a dollar won't get a a cup of coffee at Starbucks, but here it is. Offering a draw in a superior or equal position at any time is ethical. Reasons don't matter, you could be tired, hungry, bored, or want to hit on the blonde who just finished her game and is leaving the tournament hall. Offering a draw in losing position is in poor taste, unless you are a vastly superior to your opponent, who may prefer taking a draw over risking blundering away the win.