All very true. If you accept or offer a draw in an equal position, then you could just as well accept or offer a draw in the opening and not play chess at all.
It is surprising how many completely drawn endgames e.g. Fischer and Carlsen managed to win.
It is surprising how many completely drawn endgames e.g. Fischer and Carlsen managed to win.
read this at the right time! thanks so much for the post!!
I like the basic idea, but there are limits. Say, king and rook pawn vs a king where the defending side is already guarding the queening square, or an opposite color bishop endgame where your opponent just has to keep moving back and forth between 2 squares no matter what. Or king and rook vs king and rook, no pawns, no time pressure.
@Jennyheartsweet said in #4:
> I like the basic idea, but there are limits. Say, king and rook pawn vs a king where the defending side is already guarding the queening square, or an opposite color bishop endgame where your opponent just has to keep moving back and forth between 2 squares no matter what. Or king and rook vs king and rook, no pawns, no time pressure.
Yes - I consider the above as completing the "Play Till Kings" objective! My main premise here is that in an equal position where you have just a 1% chance of winning, you should continue to press on until that edge has been exhausted. Once your opponent demonstrates they can hold the theoretical/equal endgame, then a draw is the right result.
"Play Till Kings" was my actual rally cry to myself during tournaments so as not to get frustrated when I wasn't able to break through, which is why I used it in this blog :D
> I like the basic idea, but there are limits. Say, king and rook pawn vs a king where the defending side is already guarding the queening square, or an opposite color bishop endgame where your opponent just has to keep moving back and forth between 2 squares no matter what. Or king and rook vs king and rook, no pawns, no time pressure.
Yes - I consider the above as completing the "Play Till Kings" objective! My main premise here is that in an equal position where you have just a 1% chance of winning, you should continue to press on until that edge has been exhausted. Once your opponent demonstrates they can hold the theoretical/equal endgame, then a draw is the right result.
"Play Till Kings" was my actual rally cry to myself during tournaments so as not to get frustrated when I wasn't able to break through, which is why I used it in this blog :D
Thank you for this post it inspires me too play till the end in my upcoming tournaments, thank you!
I completely disagree, but because I'm lower rated, I'll just accept defeat.
- I resign
- I resign
@tpr said in #2:
>
I think the idea sounds good but it's extremely limited, offering or accepting draw is not a bad thing in itself, even Magnus Carlsen often offers drawing, chess is a game where defeats don't help, refusing drawing and losing afterwards is anything but fun, so I think there's nothing wrong with offering or accepting drawing
>
I think the idea sounds good but it's extremely limited, offering or accepting draw is not a bad thing in itself, even Magnus Carlsen often offers drawing, chess is a game where defeats don't help, refusing drawing and losing afterwards is anything but fun, so I think there's nothing wrong with offering or accepting drawing
What if you lose the game?
"offering or accepting draw is not a bad thing in itself" * It is bad: the aim of a game is to play, not to agree to a draw. You end up to offer or accept draws for all kinds of reasons: higher rated opponent, cramped position, not feeling well, getting tired...
"even Magnus Carlsen often offers drawing" * Not often.
"chess is a game where defeats don't help" * Draws do not help either. Nobody ever won a tournament with all draws.
"refusing drawing and losing afterwards is anything but fun" * But accepting draws in winning positions is no fun either, and declining a draw and winning is fun.
"there's nothing wrong with offering or accepting drawing" * It goes against the true spirit of the game. Imagine two boxers who agree on a draw...
"even Magnus Carlsen often offers drawing" * Not often.
"chess is a game where defeats don't help" * Draws do not help either. Nobody ever won a tournament with all draws.
"refusing drawing and losing afterwards is anything but fun" * But accepting draws in winning positions is no fun either, and declining a draw and winning is fun.
"there's nothing wrong with offering or accepting drawing" * It goes against the true spirit of the game. Imagine two boxers who agree on a draw...