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Why You Should Never Offer A Draw

#71
@alwayschessing101 said in #69:
> Well then I could've got a ban warning. I don't want that.
Yes, but it is just a warning. They created the Abort button for situations like this!
#73
2 times in a tournament I offered and when we analyzed I was up 5 points according to Stockfish. My dad then told me not to draw. I won the next game even though I felt like giving a draw
#74
@rbhoopathi04 said in #73:
>
Always listen to your parents! They are always right! My dad tells me never to resign. I only show respect to my opponent after the game. While playing, no matter who it is, I don't care whether they are mad at the fact that I am not resigning.
#75
When I'm on a tournament, I usually draw my first game, just something relaxing about not sitting with zero anymore.
#76
@SD_2709 said in #2:
> Great post but if I had a winning position against someone who's a lot higher rated than me I still don't know if I would have the courage to decline a draw offer..

Develop it! What you call "courage" in this case is an essential part of improving.

As a general rule, your first reaction to a draw offer shouldn't be "I want to", but rather "No way in hell". Obviously, think about it, but develop the instinct to decline by default. Think: "My opponent is offering a draw, so why are they assuming that their position is worse?" If you start from there, you will be much more reluctant to accept draw offers. That in turn will force you to play - and fight - more which invariably will improve your chess. Always remember that chess is a battle.
#77
Great post! The only times I offered a draw and I felt it made some sense is when I was very slightly worse in an extremely sharp position but I sense my opponent is also risking alot by playing on and might think he is the one who is worse.
The clock situation was not in my favor and I sense my opponent is mis-evaluating and uncomfortable (Objectively, he is slightly better, but he's far from safe) so I offer a draw to avoid him putting me in time pressure where anything could happen.

This litterally happened once or twice in my entire 3000 + - rated rapid/"classical" games online.

So I agree with the overall message of the post which is super important - valuing the process more than the result. Fantastic.

But 1 time out of 1000 you can trick your opponent in to drawing when he's better and that's also part of some process, and part of the game.
Just very rare... But I will definitely try to remember this advice and care less about the result.. It's just hard when you are IN a game and you really feel like this game is the entire world lol

ofc this mentality should not be a go to, and definitely will prevent us us from developing the ability to grind out wins from drawn positions a la Magnus.. (in the long run)
#78
Hm. A draw offer does not necessarily mean that I think that my position is worse (this might happen, but it is not always the case). It could also mean that I think that my position is slightly better but that I want to have a beer earlier than otherwise (the idea with the beer is from GM Hort) or that I want to save some energy in a double-rounded tournament (2 games a day). Or it could mean that I think that the position is perfectly equal.
Of course it is ok to deny a draw, but we should not forget about the fact that the result "defeat" is still possible. Even when the own position was slightly better at the time of the draw offer. If my opponent declines a draw (and considering the fact that I don't intend to lose) I know that I have to win. And this did sometimes indeed work.
#79
I never offer a draw if the position looks it's going to be a draw 100%. There was one time I had a pawn and a knight and my opponent had only king. Their king was so close to my pawn. There was no way I could save my pawn or promote it. So I offered a draw. He/she didn't accept it. I said "the game will end in draw if you take my pawn. If you won't take it I'll promote it to a queen. Please accept the draw so we won't waste time." he/she insisted on keep playing and declined my offer 2nd time. And captured my pawn. :)

Or sometimes similar situtation happens I offer a draw. They wouldn't accept. Then after a few moves they blunder their pieces and keep sending draw offers.