The so-called “strategy” of the organizers had absolutely no effect on the players who continue to agree to short draws with impunity whenever and wherever they want, regardless of what organizers or fans want to see from them. Are the players aware their “inaction” is killing the Royal game? Do they care?
xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com … rand-prix/
“Chess in its present form will die the death of the draw,” - Emanuel Lasker
Sports teams often rest their best players once they’ve made the playoffs, why shoudn’t chess players be able to take things a bit easier in certain games for strategic purposes?
Given that Mr. Lasker died 78 years ago and that chess rules haven’t fundamentally changed since he was born, Mr. Bacon’s citation seems to be at best an overstatement.
Alex Relyea
Well, at least they did not post a zero move or one move draw. I have seen this practice happen in USCF rated tournaments. It is a rules violation that buddy-buddy organizers and TDs ignore, wringing their hands saying they can’t do anything about it, and fearing the GMs and IMs or local masters won’t show up if they are called on it. Be advised that if you as a floor TD call certain players out for this “strategy”, you are very likely to be overruled when the players who have not played a single move run to their buddy-buddy head TD. The zero move draw will stand and be rated, setting a bad precedent. At least the GMs in the cited event by the OP had the decency to play a few moves.
I liked the Simon and Garfunkel video.
If I’m the chief TD, the floor TD will be upheld. I might be generous enough to ask my “buddies” to go back and play a “real” game, rather than an automatic double forfeit, but no players in my tournaments have attempted a draw of fewer than ten moves.
Alex Relyea
The “GM” draw, or money draw, has always been around. It is not likely to disappear any time soon, except in tournaments with “Sophia” rules or special prizes/scoring for wins.
I once was playing on the top board in the final round of a small 1 day weekend event. My opponent [who was sick and regularly had a pile of tissues by his board] offered me a draw at the start of the game, which I refused. About a dozen moves into the game I got down a pawn and accepted my opponents draw offer. The TD was upset about the draw, but did allow it and pay the appropriate prizes. My opponent clearly just want to get home and self medicate, while I was down the pawn without good prospects for play.
The best way to avoid the “Buddy draw” is to not pair buddies. If you play (or study) with someone enough you will learn their style and be more likely to draw them if you are paired together. I have a chess buddy I will travel with often and we have been paired at smaller events. I would say that of the last dozen games about 70-90% have been draws.
Larry Cohen