What to do in this situation?

Years ago I played over the board chess tournaments in central Illinois. My friend, Tom, also played and we were about equal in chess ability. We played in 5 round tournaments. What happened several times was that my friend and I would win our first 4 games and then play each other. Each time we played a quick draw and thus shared first place. There was no discussion beforehand--it just happened  :).

One tournament the senario did not work out as I lost a game in the 3rd round. Going in to the 5th round my friend had 4 wins and I and one other player had 3 wins and 1 loss. My friend had White and was eagerly looking to draw with me in the last round. He even discussed this before the game--that he was looking for a draw...  However I told him that I was going to take a chance and try to win my last round game against him. He became quite upset. But I DID try and win the last round game.  Did I do the "right thing"?  Did I do the "ethical thing"? Or did I do the "wrong thing"?  and why? 

Well, for example, did you know in sumo wrestling their wins and loses are rigged. If the total points to move on to the next round to keep on being a sumo wrestler is 7, than the guy that has 7 wins in the row and 0 loses than he will lose on purpose to his friend or opponent who has 6 wins and 1 loss so that they can move on together. But, don't think about it as a happy ending, it's like a i help you and now you are going ot help me. So your friend just wanted both of you to have good scores in the tournament, i guess it was wrong knowing that your friend was trying to care for you.

 How would 3 1/2 - 1 1/2 be a "good" score if you usually get 4 1/2- 1/2? Also do you really think my friend had my interests in his consideration or his own interests?  :)  Also, if I agree to a draw--this leaves out the other player who had 3 win and 1 loss from tying for first place--what about him?  [just throwing out these questionss]

Well, did you win?

 Yes, I did win and then there were 3 of us who tied for first place with 4 wins and 1 loss.  If I had agreed to a draw then my friend would be first and I would be 3rd place  [and out of the money] and the other player  

would have been 2nd. [and in the money]

My friend was VERY upset!

Well, you should have posted you won, nothing else matters once you win. HAHAHAHA!

Okay as long and you and your friend placed for first, does it really matter? You both have that cherish moment where you both won at something at the SAME TIME. It's like a life lesson, practice more so your opponent has a disadvantage. Is in adeyance?

My own personal experience is that good friends don't really like to fight against one another and often just play a few moves and call it a draw. This is especially true if there isnt much difference in their ratings. 

I think this is truer for adults than kids. I remember being a blood-thirsty teenager, who wanted to beat his friends, more than anyone else.

Well, you obviously never met my friends. . . If there was difference in ratings the outcome is unknown since most players can have blunders.

After this experience--I realized I was just a little better player than my friend. We played a little match and I won.

But then he got back at me--this was 40 years ago--he got himself in  trouble--or so he said and wanted to borrow $150 from me--this was a BIG sum back 40 years ago. I stupidly loaned him the money and have not seen him since--I did see he made master on USCF chess rating.  Now what is $150 at 5% interest for 40 years????

you did the right thing by trying to win and win. 

I will never let anybody win. if people want a draw or more they have to fight for it. they know that you can win or lose in chess. otherwise there is no point in showing up to a tournament.

A friend would forgive you. he obviously wasn't a friends since he never forgave you and furthermore stole money from you. I know you wrote he borrowed but if he had no intention to pay it back.

Of course you did the right thing I'm surprised you had to ask! 

He owes you $720.00 BTW

http://www.moneychimp.com/calculator/compound_interest_calculator.htm

 Actually there was no collaboration in the tournaments where we shared first with 4 1/2 to 1/2 as we never discussed drawing beforehand. The only possible collaboration would have been if I had accepted his idea to let him have a draw in the last tournament we played in.

If we should play for a win in all situations is another [but related] subject.

well there is nothing you/I can do about it. it happens all the time.

and the worst thing they are open about it. I would rather they did it without telling everybody.

In one situation a player could win a tournament if he got a draw. So he said to his opponent that would not lose rating if he got a draw." you can play a few moves and say draw whenever you want". they agreed to a draw after 10 moves or less.

in a 25 minutes  tournament two player players played e4 and e5 and agreed to a draw. it was lunch time after the match so they had longer time for lunch. they were from the same chess club.

my otb tournament transcript for the last 4 years. 28 x 7 games. 196 games.

the 25 minutes tournaments aren't listed.

+1

If you two are not afraid to fight (it's just a game after all), you'll win some and lose some... which is fine.

 More power to you! :)  Here is a question for you. You are low master level in over the board tournaments and you have done well in a very large tournament and in 5th round you are paired with a GM--you have White--Do you play for a win or draw or what?

 For $150 you rid yourself of a two-faced stressful relationship.  Great investment!  Believe me, he knows...

 Great!  One of my very last tournaments [over the board] was the US Open in Chicago in 1973. Won my first 3 games and then drew with the Illinois Champion and then was paired with a GM. I was White and played 1. e4  e5  2. d4  exd4 

3. c3  dxc3  4. Bc4  cxb2  5. Bxb2   :)  :)  My theory--this will sometimes put a GM off his sphere of comfort!