Was this a fair draw offer by the GM I played yesterday?

[wolfv]

Hi,

I played a blitz game against GM David Howell on the Playchess server yesterday. Towards the end of the game, in a clearly inferior position, Howell offered a draw. I wonder if it's only me who thinks that the draw offer was simply intending to confuse and sidetrack me into making a mistake. What do you guys think? Btw, I was not in any time trouble. Here's the game (I play the Cordell line in the Ruy often even though it leads black to a cramped position, albeit without a decisive advantage for white at blitz time controls):

[Event "Rated game, 3m + 0s"]
[Site "Main Playing Hall"]
[Date "2007.05.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "David Howell"]
[Black "Analyser"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C64"]
[WhiteElo "2468"]
[BlackElo "2492"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2007.05.27"]
[TimeControl "180"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 4. c3 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} Nge7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 7. cxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 8. d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nb8 {[%emt 0:00:01]
} 9. d6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} cxd6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 10. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d5 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} 11. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 12. h3 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 13. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Nc5 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} 14. b4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Na6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 15. a3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 16. Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Bg6 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} 17. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 18. Rc1 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} Nc7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 19. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ne8 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 20. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 21. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 22. g4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ne7 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} 23. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rxc3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 24. Qxc3 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 25. Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Bxe4 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} 26. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 27. Bg3 {
[%emt 0:00:03]} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 28. Qxf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} f5 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 29. gxf5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nh4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 30. Qe4 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} Nxf5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 31. Qe6+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kh8 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} 32. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nxg3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 33. fxg3 {
David Howell offers a draw [%emt 0:00:00]} Rf2+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 34. Kh1 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} Qf8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 35. Bc4 {
David Howell resigns (Lag: Av=0.19s, max=0.7s) [%emt 0:00:02]} 0-1

[JVMerlino]

Black's position definitely looks better, and with proper play you should be able to reach the endgame up at least one pawn, if not two.

However, in a game with a 3-minute time control, I would certainly think about a draw offer from a GM when there was equal material on the table and bishops of opposite color.

So, I wouldn't say that the draw offer was ENTIRELY unreasonable. Of course, it's no surprise that White resigned immediately after walking into a Mate in 2.

jm

[smirobth]

Hi,

I played a blitz game against GM David Howell on the Playchess server yesterday. Towards the end of the game, in a clearly inferior position, Howell offered a draw. I wonder if it's only me who thinks that the draw offer was simply intending to confuse and sidetrack me into making a mistake. What do you guys think? Btw, I was not in any time trouble. Here's the game (I play the Cordell line in the Ruy often even though it leads black to a cramped position, albeit without a decisive advantage for white at blitz time controls):

I don't think a singular draw offer is unreasonable, although I am not basing this on the game. It is just that many people will accept such an offer against a highly rated player even if their position is better, plus if the offer confuses or side tracks you, that too is part of the game for some people.

[nuff]

The GM was doing what people tend to do

- offer a draw in a weak/losing position
- offer a weaker player a draw as he may take it against a strong/titled player.

Actually one of the Fritz's versions used to say "Fritz only accepts a draw when he is worse". What are they going to program into Fritz next? It kicks you under the table?