cheating (by playing for a draw)

Troller alan is back...

When I play against a player rated (real life rating and not chess.com rating) more than 300 points above me, I generally play for a draw -- for example, by choosing conservative, passive openings rather than sharp lines.  The reason I do this is that I do not have confidence that I have the skill to actually win against someone presumably that much better than me, whereas I think there is at least a slim chance of a draw if I don't blunder too badly in a drawish opening.  I don't have the audacity to offer a draw to someone rated that highly, as it would be perceived as insulting or at least presumptuous.  However, I would accept a draw if offered, even if I were slightly ahead.

Just yesterday, I played a game where, at a certain point, my options were lose by checkmate or force a draw and take less of a hit to my rating points.  I opted for the latter.  It's not the first time I've done this, nor, I suspect, the last.  I've also had other opponents do the same to me.  I accept such a maneuver as being a part of the game of chess; and as it was pointed out, if it doesn't break a rule then it's not cheating.

Your onlinerating tells me that you have winningchances  more than 300 above your USCF-rating. Those higher rated players does mistakes and inaccuracies in every game. They are not that good.

I always plays for win, even against 600 above me. I outplayed 600+ only one time in otb longchess. He pushed too hard for the win after I got a perfect opening. The 600+ doesnt like losing against us, so they might push to hard and get punished.

If I dont win against 300+, I am disappointed. Last tournament I lost against a 600+, because I underestimated him. And he was actually a lot better than me. I also lost against a 350+ and won against three ca 250+. No draws.

I have ca 100 otb longchessgames-games  and 4 of them against 600+, which means that my winningchances against 600+ should be ca 25%. (I dont beieve 25% 600+ wins myself, and the number of those games is too low for statistics).

to all the point I was makig during any game when a player is loseing I think they play for a draw

And...?

I have played against a certain opponent exactly twice in chess.com CC games. Both games were drawn by agreement because of an impending/in progress perpetual. Were we cheating? Maybe if we weren't I have a right to complain about losing a few rating points? No. Just no... Ridiculous...

I believe there's a forced mate after 25. Qg4+ in your first game.

25...Qg5 0-1.

Whoops

It's a rather pointless point (pun intended). If faced with the options of no points or half a point, which do you think a reasonable person would choose?

The last time, when my oponent had one pawn advantage, I heart 'finish it like a man', just a few moves before I reached a position which was a deadly draw.

sorry to all nor a draw game when you both want it ,i mean when the player knows they are losing they play the same moves so the game ends

If I am losing and I can enforce draw by a repetition of moves I take it as a part of the game (technical skill) which, legitimately, saves me.

I don't think my opponent wanted a draw in my second game. He'd been a piece up (suspicious sacrifice on my part which somehow my engine didn't hate too much) for half the game. I suspect that when he took a further Rook he had seen the perpetual but been unable to see an improvement.

Perpetual checks or 3-position repetitions are accepted and reputable parts of the game. If you have a winning position, it is your responsibility to prevent your opponent from executing a perpetual or repetition. If you fail to do this, you only have yourself to blame. If you can't understand this idea, then you need to mull it over until it starts making sense.

I like this post. I think that's an accurate summary.

How is it cheating if it's not breaking any rules? Now, is it unethical or unfair? That's an entirely different question. I don't see the problem with people doing what's best for their game. If it's screwing up your placement in tournaments then it's up to you to win more.