which openings do gm use to draw games ? • page 1/3 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

the only ones i know is the berlin defense and the marshall gambit.

All of them.
They do not play any openings that result in a serious disadvantage. As white, they aim for a slight edge and as black, equality.

All of them. They do not play any openings that result in a serious disadvantage. As white, they aim for a slight edge and as black, equality.

TheDifferenceOfTier5

@lizani said ^

All of them.
They do not play any openings that result in a serious disadvantage. As white, they aim for a slight edge and as black, equality.

But they might play different openings if they specifically want to draw a certain game.

@lizani said [^](/forum/redirect/post/ya73HvhD) > All of them. > They do not play any openings that result in a serious disadvantage. As white, they aim for a slight edge and as black, equality. But they might play different openings if they specifically want to draw a certain game.

tpr

"which openings do gm use to draw games ?"

Look at the 2026 Cyprus Candidates' tournament.
Blübaum was the lowest rated candidate, and he tried to draw all his games.
He played C42 Petroff with black, and D37 Queen's Gambit with white.

"which openings do gm use to draw games ?" * Look at the 2026 Cyprus Candidates' tournament. Blübaum was the lowest rated candidate, and he tried to draw all his games. He played C42 Petroff with black, and D37 Queen's Gambit with white.

JustAChessPlayer177

i know one! read from Lichess wiki books: 1.d4 1.d5 2.c4 2.c6 3.cxd5 3.cxd5 4.nc3 4.nf6 5.nf3, it says in wiki that masters use this opening to draw their games or Equality (0.0)
heres the wiki:
4...Nf6
The most common move for Black. White now has to reveal their opening plan.

Bf4 is the most common move, delaying Nf3 and developing the bishop.
Nf3 is the second-most common move. This allows a completely equal position and is often used if playing for a draw, especially the variation 5...Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 =
f3 is the Boor attack, a rare sideline where White tries to take over the center by preparing e4.
After both 5. Bf4 and 5. Nf3 Black can try to continue copying their opponent or break the symmetry with the waiting move 6...a6 (played after 5...Nc6). This is a multi-purpose move: it prevents White's light-squared bishop from developing to b5, pinning the knight, and it is useful as a waiting move. If White plays both Nf3 and e3, Black can usefully develop the light-squared bishop to g4 where it pins White's knight to the queen.

Theory table

d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6

References
Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

Read more on WikiBooks

i know one! read from Lichess wiki books: 1.d4 1.d5 2.c4 2.c6 3.cxd5 3.cxd5 4.nc3 4.nf6 5.nf3, it says in wiki that masters use this opening to draw their games or Equality (0.0) heres the wiki: 4...Nf6 The most common move for Black. White now has to reveal their opening plan. 5. Bf4 is the most common move, delaying Nf3 and developing the bishop. 5. Nf3 is the second-most common move. This allows a completely equal position and is often used if playing for a draw, especially the variation 5...Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 = 5. f3 is the Boor attack, a rare sideline where White tries to take over the center by preparing e4. After both 5. Bf4 and 5. Nf3 Black can try to continue copying their opponent or break the symmetry with the waiting move 6...a6 (played after 5...Nc6). This is a multi-purpose move: it prevents White's light-squared bishop from developing to b5, pinning the knight, and it is useful as a waiting move. If White plays both Nf3 and e3, Black can usefully develop the light-squared bishop to g4 where it pins White's knight to the queen. Theory table 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 References Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9. Read more on WikiBooks

GM ILikeBlitz

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4 Nbd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 (or 8...d5 9.exd6 Nxd4) 9.Qxd4 d5 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.Qe4+ Qe6 12.Qd4 Qd6 13.Qe4+ Qe6 14.Qd4 Qd6 is the first line which comes into mind. Black doesn't have many promising options to avoid this when playing Berlin.

TheOnlyBenJo

1.E4...e5 2.Ke2...Ke7 if both are willing to draw

NM rbhoopathi04

@ILikeBlitz said ^

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4 Nbd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 (or 8...d5 9.exd6 Nxd4) 9.Qxd4 d5 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.Qe4+ Qe6 12.Qd4 Qd6 13.Qe4+ Qe6 14.Qd4 Qd6 is the first line which comes into mind. Black doesn't have many promising options to avoid this when playing Berlin.

e4 e5 nf3 nc6 bb5 nbd7 now what would u do if your a gm as white who wants a draw against another gm.

@ILikeBlitz said [^](/forum/redirect/post/qMCLhtlw) > 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4 Nbd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 (or 8...d5 9.exd6 Nxd4) 9.Qxd4 d5 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.Qe4+ Qe6 12.Qd4 Qd6 13.Qe4+ Qe6 14.Qd4 Qd6 is the first line which comes into mind. Black doesn't have many promising options to avoid this when playing Berlin. e4 e5 nf3 nc6 bb5 nbd7 now what would u do if your a gm as white who wants a draw against another gm.

abyss-void

e4 e5 nf3 nc6 bb5 nbd7 now what would u do if your a gm as white who wants a draw against another gm....

I thought titled players would be able to get three moves into a game without making/notating an illegal move... and I won't even mention the grammar.

> e4 e5 nf3 nc6 bb5 nbd7 now what would u do if your a gm as white who wants a draw against another gm.... I thought titled players would be able to get three moves into a game without making/notating an illegal move... and I won't even mention the grammar.

tpr

He probably means 3...Nge7.