An opponent 200 points below me was a drawmonger

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HolographWars

I was one of the top player in the Continental Class Championship's B section. On the first round, I played a 1590 and I was a 1761. I had black, and wanted to win so I pulled out the ultra sharp Sicilica. My opponent prepared a Yugoslav, and I thwarted his intentions with a counter in the center, d5. But then, my opponent started trading all the pieces and offered me draws like crazy, nearly every move. I refused all of them, but my opponent forced a totally drawn rook ending, 4 vs 3 and outside passer for opponent. I even almost lost due to overpushing, but my opponent offered a draw in a theoretically won rook endgame! I could almost see the Lucena for him, right on the board, and he still wanted a draw. I accepted, of course. I am disgusted with Davids totally playing for draws like this. 

The game was eventually drawn, of course. Any advice to help combat drawmongers?

notmtwain

Where is the rest of the game?

It looks like 7 Bc4 is the normal move in the Master Game database. It would probably help to stop d5.

 null

HolographWars

Why? Bc4 0-0 Bb3 a5 and my book has all the rest of the variations

llama

1) You're the one who traded queens. This isn't my main complaint, but I'm just saying.

 

2) The move 8...d5 is indeed a good move. In many Sicilians and Ruys it's an instant equalizer... and there's my biggest complaint. If you want to go all out for a win as black, you can't be afraid of letting your opponent get a good position. After d6 on move 7 or 8 the game probably wouldn't end in a draw.

 

3) Ok, and now I'll answer your question. In games where you're going all out for a win, I wouldn't suggest something as theoretical as 2...g6 (unless you're really confident in your theory).

And part of knowing theory well is understanding the moves top GMs play, and moves recommended by the engine, or moves recommended statistics, should sometimes be avoided... because those moves (especially as black) are attempting to equalize. That's why their stats are good and why top GMs play them... but you vs a 1500 shouldn't necessarily play that way.

darkunorthodox88

knowing when to play slightly inferior moves  (or equal but different moves) to maximize your chances against weaker opposition is an art in itself. your line simplified the position, with you have two isolated pawns in the queenside.  while you can stir the pot a little if you get an e5-f5 combo going and fighting for space, its not the ideal position to fight for a win.

Monie49

"Any advice to help combat drawmongers?"

Complicate the position.

avatar_legend

"I could almost see the Lucena for him, right on the board, and he still wanted a draw."

 

epic

avatar_legend

"I could almost see the Lucena for him, right on the board, and he still wanted a draw."

 

epic

Pulpofeira

So you were losing but are disgusted because it ended in a draw?

HolographWars

I want a specific line for black that complicates the position without giving too much advantage to my opponent. And yes I am very confident in my theory.

HolographWars

Trading Queens was forced!

HolographWars

My record facing the Yugoslav was like 1-5, so I knew that it was not the best choice for me.

MickinMD

After move 12, you have a 3 vs 2 Q-side Pawn majority and his 2 Pawns are both isolated.

So I don't agree that "the game was eventually drawn, of course..."

There are still some things you could go after like controlling the d-file after O-O-O then threatening d8 with your R's and dark-squared B rather than move your c and b Pawns - though moving one may have become necessary.

PinkSheep666

 

llama
HolographWars wrote:

I want a specific line for black that complicates the position without giving too much advantage to my opponent. And yes I am very confident in my theory.

Then for sure it's d6 instead of d5.

The lines get crazy long, and the position gets crazy complicated. I heard Seirawan doing live commentary of a game once and mentioning a "well known" line that ended after move 30... of course he meant well known to those super GMs.

(I think the engine whines about d6 at first, but even top 10 players have played that position as black, so don't worry about it.)

Although IIRC in those cases it's better to delay 0-0, and sometimes keep your king in the center for quite a long time... I don't play this stuff so I'm just going by what I remember seeing in GM games.

llama
HolographWars wrote:

Trading Queens was forced!

11...Qxc6 and it's just a normal game of chess.

llama
notmtwain wrote:

It looks like 7 Bc4 is the normal move in the Master Game database. It would probably help to stop d5.

 

MickinMD wrote:

After move 12, you have a 3 vs 2 Q-side Pawn majority and his 2 Pawns are both isolated.

 

If you guys read the OP you'd know he was black, even though he messed up and put "me" for white in the game.

HolographWars

3 game mentalities:

1. Winboard

Trying to win at any cost

Example: Fischer

2. Optimist

Playing for the best result you think is justified

Example: Carlsen

3. Drawmonger

Example: No one becomes a grandmaster by drawmongering!

 

HolographWars

I am more of a Winboard type, so I sometimes lose games by overpushing

HolographWars

Not exactly the most formidable example...