This is the final position in the game Cordova (2570) – Shulman (2665).
This game took place in the last round. GM Shulman had 7.5 points. IM Cordova had 7.0 points. A draw would give GM Shulman at least a tie for 1st. A win by Cordova would guarantee him at least a tie for 1st.
After move 18, GM Shulman offered a draw. It is understandable and a smart idea to secure 1st place. The position is somewhat equal and still has plenty of play. Would you take a draw here in this position as White?
I do not allow my children to offer draws. I suggest the same to my students. They must learn to play out positions if they want to improve and get better.
I was in the same position yesterday at the US Open Blitz. I was up by 1/2 point going into the last pair of game against IM Almeida. 1.5 / 2 would guarantee me at least a tie. I went on for the win in both games and scored 2-0 and won the tournament by 2 points.
This is my advice to you, especially young players. Do not let the scores or ratings of your opponents scare you. Learn to control your nerve and try to play out every game. Otherwise, you will limit your own potentials.
Susan said “What I do not understand is why would White accept a draw when a win would give him the championship?”
What is there not to understand ?
White would stand to lose more money if he lost the game. So it was a choice between drawing and securing a safe amount of money, or going for the win (bigger money) but also risking a lot by doing that. White chose the first.
Its all about money
Tell that to an athlete. Do you think if an amateur Hockey player would just “play for a tie” as opposed to a win for a few extra dollars? Why do more chess players not have a little killer attitude, or at least pride. I refuse to watch Krammnik, or Leko, or many of the so-called elite chess players, because they put me to sleep. It’s like watching two 80 year old women playing an endless golf match ending in a tie. Give me Aronian, Topalov, and Moro. The young guns are exciting as well. Carlsen, Nakamura, volokitin, Radjabov….
Based on the prize fund and their ratings, Cordova was faced with a 40% chance of winning $6,000 and being the US champion vs a 100% chance of winning $800.
I would take the gamble every time!
Susan it would be interesting if you could contact Cordova and ask him what he was thinking at the time he accepted the draw offer. then let us know. I am sure he did not know there would be a 10 way tie for 2nd place.
He might have been tired and exhausted. maybe he is not in good shape. You have also talked about how important it is to be in good shape.
I watched the Aigner, Michael vs GM Fedorowicz, John game. and Fed would not take the draw for many many moves in a drawn position. even the spectators were frustrated at the end. they were asking for the draw. finally he offered the draw. of course a win for the fed would have moved him up to a tie for first place. the same for Aigner. but the Fed is 200 points stronger than Aigner and he did not want to concede the draw.
now Aigner earned his IM title in the tournament and came in 2nd place. I am sure he considers it a great tournament for him.
“I do not allow my children to offer draws.”
LOL
Susan Polgar you are too rigid to a fault.
It seems you like all persons and events to take a que from you.
There is no perfect world.
Only when you realize the last phrase will you be only destined for greatness.
It’s not “all about the money”. It’s (excuse me, ladies) all about balls.
Many chess players simply do not have the balls to fight… you can call it “guts” if you prefer. I believe this is quite literally the case. (My belief is based on behavior, not testing.) I believe that many, if not most, chess players would test low for testosterone.
No balls for a fight.
How many of you would gamble a week’s pay just to show you have “balls”? A true sports fan understands more than just the final result.
Susan’s point is that by playing on during difficult situations (psychological as well as positional) you will become a stronger person/player; and that by taking the easy road to alleviate the pressure you are cheating yourself.
~mang
Anonymous, if by gambling you mean paying $800 for a 40% chance to win $6000, I think most CEOs and people in the stock market would jump on that and call it speculating.
Emilio Cordova is 14 and received his second GM norm after drawing. Perhaps that was his motivation. I hardly think a week’s pay would be an overriding concern at 14 years old.
likesforest, how much do you think a GM
norm is worth? Having those two letters in
your title means getting appearance money,
getting invited to more tournaments, more
recognition. Pretty smart for a 14 year old,
I’d say. If he played on and lost, you’d
probably be going on how foolish he was.
As for the position, sure there are lots of pieces on the board, but after the exchanges that are coming soon, I’d rather
be playing Black.
Anonymous, you argued that he drew to avoid ‘gambling a week’s pay’. I suggested his motivation might have been a GM norm.
“If he played on and lost, you’d
probably be going on how foolish he was.”
Nonsense.
“How much do you think a GM norm is worth?”
Well, seven GMs made $800 for a week of “work”, and that’s before hotels, airfare, and travel are accounted for. You have to love the game to dedicate yourself to it. Of course, adult players also have to make a living.
There are many good reasons to offer or take a draw when there may be more play left in a position. As others have noted:
1. If the draw = guarantee of a good pay day. In this case – 40% chance of winning $6000 versus 100% of $800 – the poker players on the site can correct me – but doesn’t this mean the expected yield of the position is 0.4 x 6000 = 2400 versus 1.0 x 800 or 800 so it would be about 3x better to play on?
2. If you feel that the game is lost or slipping away – can’t tell more without some insight from player.
3. If the final standing will gain something worthwhile – a norm, a team spot or placement. A few weeks ago, many PGA golfers were tryig to improve their positions in the final standing even though they had no chance of winning the Buick Open because a better standing would mean selection to an international side. A GM norm might be worth more to some players than the money.
4. Susan’s statement shouldn’t be taken too broadly and I think she probably means that for her students she discourages draws because of its effect on their chess training. For kids and other players who are just starting out and are not professionals or seeking a norm or team placement, it may not make much sense to agree to early draws. Their games have many ups and downs and so there is probably a reasonable chance of gaining the whole point. Plus if one makes it a habit of drawing it become subconsciously a way of avoiding difficult positions. If each time a position arises that you can’t recall how to play you sort of bail out by offering a draw, it is hard to learn much. We see this already among many GMs
Anonymous@4:37:56, good comments and I agree with that and Susan’s sentiments. I sometimes offer draws in equal positions where I’m not sure how to continue, and that teaches me nothing. In general, play on!
I probably would not. White can win a piece by 1.gxf4 Bxe2 2.Bxe2.
david, that’s an astute observation, but Black is already up a piece, so White ie merely restoring the material balance.
After 1.gxf3 Bxe2 2.Bxe2 White has regained a piece but has isolated, doubled pawns on the f-file. He’s basically a pawn down.
After 1.Nxf3 things remain equal and both sides have winning chances.
I faced a bishops of opposite colors endgame today, with my opponent one pawn up. Taking Susan’s advice, I rejected his draw offer–play on! I lost. Oh well, at least I’m learning!
“I do not allow my children to offer draws. I suggest the same to my students.”
I will accept your advice and tell it to my child also. What about if a draw is offered from the other side? What to do then?
teudkx
teudkx: When a stronger player has a poor position against a weaker player s/he often offers a draw. Neither offer nor accept a draw in that case. Play out your positions to learn!
A draw can also occur from stalemate or 3x repetition. Those are fine. The position has been fully played out to its conclusion.
Hola.
Estoy muy contento con el comentario de Susan, se que ella me lee esto porque como persona culta habla muchos idiomas. La idea que ella tiene es de no aceptar tablas rapidamente…claro que una cosa es analizar la partida tranquilamente en la casa y otra cosa es jugar en la mesa numero uno de un fuerte open en America.
Por favor escribanme a mi email : peruviancowboy@yahoo.com
What Rafael wrote, traducido en inglés:
Hi. I’m very pleased with susan’s commentary. I know she’s reading this because she’s a cultured person who speaks many languages. The idea she has is this: don’t accept draws too quickly. Clearly it’s one thing to analyze a game calmly in your home and another thing to play at table number one in a strong open in America. Please write me at my e-mail: peruviancowboy@yahoo.com