I had this position in an over-the-board 90+30 game. My opponent was white and she had about 55 mins on her clock, and I had 1 hr on mine. She proceeded to offer me a draw after her last move, 41. Ra4,.Would you take the draw? She was 1550+ FIDE, and I was 1700+ FIDE.
I had this position in an over-the-board 90+30 game. My opponent was white and she had about 55 mins on her clock, and I had 1 hr on mine. She proceeded to offer me a draw after her last move, 41. Ra4,.Would you take the draw? She was 1550+ FIDE, and I was 1700+ FIDE.
Never take any draw regardless of rating, unless there is no hope of winning.
Objectively the position is a draw, but you can play on.
Here is an example where the same endgame occurred.
They played on, but it ended in a draw.
https://lichess.org/ndtMaBNR#93
Never take any draw regardless of rating, unless there is no hope of winning.
Objectively the position is a draw, but you can play on.
Here is an example where the same endgame occurred.
They played on, but it ended in a draw.
https://lichess.org/ndtMaBNR#93
What does the draw offer mean? Either
- They're confident in their ability to draw this endgame.
Or
- They're nervous against a higher rated opponent and want a peaceful resolution.
If you think it's 1) you should play on if you're confident in your own endgame ability. The position may be objectively drawn and there's no harm in playing it out.
If you think it's 2) you should play on. They're desperate to draw and why not test their technique? You can always offer a draw later if the position offers no winning chances.
The same logic applies even against a higher rated opponent. You should be happy to play positions with two results i. e. a draw or a win with no risk of losing.
What does the draw offer mean? Either
1. They're confident in their ability to draw this endgame.
Or
2. They're nervous against a higher rated opponent and want a peaceful resolution.
If you think it's 1) you should play on if you're confident in your own endgame ability. The position may be objectively drawn and there's no harm in playing it out.
If you think it's 2) you should play on. They're desperate to draw and why not test their technique? You can always offer a draw later if the position offers no winning chances.
The same logic applies even against a higher rated opponent. You should be happy to play positions with two results i. e. a draw or a win with no risk of losing.
@tpr said ^
Never take any draw regardless of rating, unless there is no hope of winning.
Objectively the position is a draw, but you can play on.
Here is an example where the same endgame occurred.
They played on, but it ended in a draw.
https://lichess.org/ndtMaBNR#93
Firstly, how the hell did you get a game so damn similar to my OTB game? I'm actually impressed. I'll go check this full game out, but this is insane. At first, I thought you found my OTB game, but it's some online game, how in the world. Thanks for this game tbh this is insane.
@tpr said [^](/forum/redirect/post/XlrrGID2)
> Never take any draw regardless of rating, unless there is no hope of winning.
> Objectively the position is a draw, but you can play on.
> Here is an example where the same endgame occurred.
> They played on, but it ended in a draw.
> https://lichess.org/ndtMaBNR#93
Firstly, how the hell did you get a game so damn similar to my OTB game? I'm actually impressed. I'll go check this full game out, but this is insane. At first, I thought you found my OTB game, but it's some online game, how in the world. Thanks for this game tbh this is insane.
@lizani said ^
What does the draw offer mean? Either
- They're confident in their ability to draw this endgame.
Or
- They're nervous against a higher rated opponent and want a peaceful resolution.
If you think it's 1) you should play on if you're confident in your own endgame ability. The position may be objectively drawn and there's no harm in playing it out.
If you think it's 2) you should play on. They'...
I thought about case scenario two, and also drawing them was going to lose me -10 OTB rating which is very hard to acquire even tho it was a team battle I had to be a bit selfish since we already won 4-0 on the other boards it was just my board remaining.
@lizani said [^](/forum/redirect/post/7QUFP8Rn)
> What does the draw offer mean? Either
> 1. They're confident in their ability to draw this endgame.
> Or
> 2. They're nervous against a higher rated opponent and want a peaceful resolution.
>
> If you think it's 1) you should play on if you're confident in your own endgame ability. The position may be objectively drawn and there's no harm in playing it out.
> If you think it's 2) you should play on. They'...
I thought about case scenario two, and also drawing them was going to lose me -10 OTB rating which is very hard to acquire even tho it was a team battle I had to be a bit selfish since we already won 4-0 on the other boards it was just my board remaining.
You are playing for love, not money (I guess) so play on!
How will you get better at endings if you dont play them out? This year I've lost 2 drawn endings by rejecting a draw, playing on, pushing too hard, getting close to a win and eventually relaxing and missing a tactic. And I'm still alive! (I've also won a lot more than 2 drawn endings.)
In that particular unbalanced ending, there are still lots of possibilities for both players to go wrong. Since you are higher rated, the odds of erring are likely in your favor.
Bill
You are playing for love, not money (I guess) so play on!
How will you get better at endings if you dont play them out? This year I've lost 2 drawn endings by rejecting a draw, playing on, pushing too hard, getting close to a win and eventually relaxing and missing a tactic. And I'm still alive! (I've also won a lot more than 2 drawn endings.)
In that particular unbalanced ending, there are still lots of possibilities for both players to go wrong. Since you are higher rated, the odds of erring are likely in your favor.
Bill
It can be easy to make an inaccuracy or worse, a blunder, if you don't know yet by heart such endgame positions. Yes, it's technically a draw, but one mistake about tempo or a not very powerful rook move and it can change the result. Taking the draw is honest given the position, make no risk, and is a good decision.
It can be easy to make an inaccuracy or worse, a blunder, if you don't know yet by heart such endgame positions. Yes, it's technically a draw, but one mistake about tempo or a not very powerful rook move and it can change the result. Taking the draw is honest given the position, make no risk, and is a good decision.
@swimmerBill said ^
You are playing for love, not money (I guess) so play on!
How will you get better at endings if you dont play them out? This year I've lost 2 drawn endings by rejecting a draw, playing on, pushing too hard, getting close to a win and eventually relaxing and missing a tactic. And I'm still alive! (I've also won a lot more than 2 drawn endings.)
In that particular unbalanced ending, there are st...
In this case, I was actually playing for money, and that's why I played on. I declined her draw offer, and she proceeded to blunder 15 moves later.
@swimmerBill said [^](/forum/redirect/post/kMUPTOrE)
> You are playing for love, not money (I guess) so play on!
>
> How will you get better at endings if you dont play them out? This year I've lost 2 drawn endings by rejecting a draw, playing on, pushing too hard, getting close to a win and eventually relaxing and missing a tactic. And I'm still alive! (I've also won a lot more than 2 drawn endings.)
>
> In that particular unbalanced ending, there are st...
In this case, I was actually playing for money, and that's why I played on. I declined her draw offer, and she proceeded to blunder 15 moves later.
@CSKA_Moscou said ^
It can be easy to make an inaccuracy or worse, a blunder, if you don't know yet by heart such endgame positions. Yes, it's technically a draw, but one mistake about tempo or a not very powerful rook move and it can change the result. Taking the draw is honest given the position, make no risk, and is a good decision.
If I took the draw, I would have risked getting a clean score of 5- 0. There were still pieces on the board, so there was still room for more, and that's why I didn't take the draw. I played on; she made a mistake in the end I got the win, I gained a lot of stamina training since the game took 3 hrs.
@CSKA_Moscou said [^](/forum/redirect/post/W7GQ030L)
> It can be easy to make an inaccuracy or worse, a blunder, if you don't know yet by heart such endgame positions. Yes, it's technically a draw, but one mistake about tempo or a not very powerful rook move and it can change the result. Taking the draw is honest given the position, make no risk, and is a good decision.
If I took the draw, I would have risked getting a clean score of 5- 0. There were still pieces on the board, so there was still room for more, and that's why I didn't take the draw. I played on; she made a mistake in the end I got the win, I gained a lot of stamina training since the game took 3 hrs.
@simplebasics said ^
image_2026-09-13_052200429.png (https://image.lichess1.org/display?op=noop&path=iHFo12g3h13b.png&sig=47264081573e5d9dfb863ae13a6a1417e924e11e)
I had this position in an over-the-board 90+30 game. My opponent was white and she had about 55 mins on her clock, and I had 1 hr on mine. She proceeded to offer me a draw after her last move, 41. Ra4,.Would you take the draw? She was 1550+ FIDE, and I wa...
Yes, you should have this position is a complete draw unless you blunder as you said you did
@simplebasics said [^](/forum/redirect/post/YzB9iImA)
> image_2026-09-13_052200429.png (https://image.lichess1.org/display?op=noop&path=iHFo12g3h13b.png&sig=47264081573e5d9dfb863ae13a6a1417e924e11e)
> I had this position in an over-the-board 90+30 game. My opponent was white and she had about 55 mins on her clock, and I had 1 hr on mine. She proceeded to offer me a draw after her last move, 41. Ra4,.Would you take the draw? She was 1550+ FIDE, and I wa...
Yes, you should have this position is a complete draw unless you blunder as you said you did
