How frowned upon is it to force a draw?
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So, I'm currently playing this game and I saw that if I somehow managed to get my pawn to h4 and my queen to f2 and still have it be my turn, I could force a draw by going back and forth between g3 and e1. I've been in these situations many times and I've thought of this question almost every time but have never asked. Now I personally see this kind of forced draw as cheap play, but is that just my mentality from other games and sports? How frowned upon is it in professional chess to force a draw like that, and is it even allowed?
Forcing a draw is perfectly acceptable.
Asking for advice on an in-progress game, on the other hand is not.
I'm not asking for advice though, just so we have that in the clear, I just wanted to show an example of what I mean.
And thanks for the answers, now I know what the general view on it is.
Yeah, I know -- it was more of a pre-emptive strike in case anyone else thought they'd try to be helpful and to offer some.
Incidentally, I actually think that the ability to clutch a draw from the jaws of defeat can be one of the more admirable skills that I still don't have a great handle on myself. If you think the draw is your best result then there's no shame at all in forcing it.
TheGrobe wrote:
Incidentally, I actually think that the ability to clutch a draw from the jaws of defeat can be one of the more admirable skills that I still don't have a great handle on myself. If you think the draw is your best result then there's no shame at all in forcing it.
Well put!
Yes, for serious players of chess, obtaining a draw from an inferior position is an achievement, not a cheapo and a mark of a good player imo
I've only forced a draw twice that I can remember, and both times the other player was fuming at me, although that probably wouldn't preclude me from doing it again in the future. Oh well.
Jul 24, 2009
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#9
The only thing it depends on is what your winning chances are. If you are in a game where both sides have winning chances, I can understand the contempt over forcing a draw. In a clearly losing situation its bordeline comical that anyone would get angry over you trying to salvage a draw. Its pretty ridiculous that you expect your opponent to play an inferior move just because you feel you deserve the win. As I mentioned in another thread, a forced draw is simply the repetition of the optimal move available to you. Perpetual check/3fold aren't arbitrary ways to save yourself, but simply a defensive setup which your opponent can not, or chooses not to make progress against.
If you've left an opening for your opponent to force a draw then clearly you don't deserve the win.
What sport are you thinking of where it is frowned upon to try to reach a tie coming from behind?
save the half point when ever you can! draws are always better than loses, but dont draw a won position...
