Sunday
Nov292015
This Week's World Chess Column: The Unloved Draw
Sunday, November 29, 2015 at 12:49AM
My column this week takes a look at the scourge of chess: the draw. After looking at some examples of the kinds of draws we all hate (at least most of the time), and a pair of amusing examples, it's easy to forget that it is possible for a draw to be not only (at least) as well-played as a won game, but every bit as hard fought and exciting, too. To remind us that such games are possible, the column concludes with a look at one of the famous draws of all time (at least in the pre-internet era), the so-called Immortal Draw between Alexander Alekhine and Richard Reti. Draws like that are worth more to chess history than many a tournament's worth of wins.
tagged AGON, Alexander Alekhine, Richard Reti, draws
Reader Comments (4)
You write about prearranged games as if they are acceptable and even funny.
Perhaps you can explain the moral difference between prearranging for one player to lose and prearranging a draw? Both are 100% illegal under FIDE rules.
[DM: Actually, I didn't say either of the things you claim I did. I did say that two of the prearranged draws were funny, based on their content, but made no sweeping generalizations. As for their moral acceptability, I explicitly remarked that I wasn't condoning it (or condemning it).
Frankly, I don't think they are a good thing, but I'm not particularly bothered by them either.
Why not? Here are some reasons. First, they're very common, all the way up and down the food chain. Second (and obviously related), the prohibition is unenforceable. Something that is widespread and doesn't harm other competitors seems to me as worrisome as a couple of friends betting $20 on a football game without the government's knowledge. Shocking, right?
Look up the games between the Kosintseva sisters (http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?pid=53061&pid2=70078), aside from their games in the 2012 women's world championship. Quick draw after quick draw, and if anyone thinks they just spontaneously decided around move 10 to call it a day, well, they're not serious. Whether implicitly understood or explicitly agreed beforehand, everyone on the planet knows they came into their games fully intending to draw. Does anyone care? Should FIDE launch an investigation? As Dr. Evil would put it, riiiiiiiiiiight.
In support of the claim that it's not a big deal morally, and not much like throwing games, consider the following:
First, it generally (but not always) helps the chase pack. (I would be delighted if I were half a point out of first and the player(s) above me made a quick draw, prearranged or not.) Second, at least in the context of open events run on the Swiss system, it's often possible to take half-point byes. What morally significant difference is there between players A & B taking byes rather than making a short, pre-arranged draw with each other? By contrast, note that a player can't sign up for full-point byes.
The fundamental difference I see between prearranged draws and pre-arranged wins/losses is pretty simple: I can't "offer" my opponent's resignation in a game, but I can offer a draw. The moral difference between offering a draw after my first move and offering it before making that move eludes me, except that I'm potentially saving my opponent and myself some time we'd spend cramming in our respective hotel rooms.
If draw offers are forbidden someday, then I'll of course agree about the moral impermissibility of prearranged draws. Until then, while I'll agree that they're not ideal, I'd be pretending if I claimed to be morally indignant or "Shocked! Shocked!" about them.]
I think it would be sad if the Alekhine-Réti drawfaded into obscurity. It continues to have instructional and aesthetic value, in my opinion.
OK, I understand. Having many good friends in a Swiss tournament you can spare your physical and mental resources and eventually decide in the last rounds who comes first and who gets more or less price money. I don't like this.
I don't think Draws are 'the Scourge Of Chess' for professional players, its only tournament organisers and people following the games on the internet who think its a problem. Short draws are an entirely valid part of the game, especially in the era of no adjournments. As 99.9 percent of people who play chess are non masters there are almost no draws at our level other than perpetual checks or walking into stalemates . A lot of people have no idea why the positions after long hard fought games are actually drawn until a commentator explains it to them (see the legendary twitter confusion over the Vancura position in Carlsen -Aronian in the Sinquefield Cup for a prime example).