Between arbitrating Olympiad rounds here in Turkey, I have also dropped into a few FIDE meetings, especially the ones on new rules proposals. At one of them, we met up with Stephen Boyd, ex-pat from Canada, representing the national chess federation of France.
Before I explain what they have been doing for about a year now (if memory serves), in my humble opinion, the two most irritating things in chess right now, have to do with draws :
1) "premature" (this word intended even for non-short games) draws by "mutual agreement"
2) annoying repeat draw offers (in my experience, mostly kids, but anyone low-etiquette)
Well, the chess federation of France came out swinging at these issues, and they have BANNED DRAW OFFERS. At first read, one wonders WHAT?! However, it actually seems to be "working" in certain ways. Their stats, still in the works, are confirming that there are less draws, that games tend to get played out more. If players really want to draw, they can engineer a 3-fold-rep, but what they are finding in France is that players often change their mind once the 3-fold-rep is getting built, especially if it is an unnatural contrived one, as players spot a subtlety that makes them change their mind. I guess there is probably also some new pressure to win rather than just draw, in order to keep up with player Jones.
This new rule of BANNED DRAW OFFERS also completely obliterates inappropriate draw offers. If I remember correctly, most TDs are penalizing them like they would for illegal moves (2 minutes each for the opponent, for the first 2 times, then forfeit for 3rd time).
The only "disadvantage", if considered that, is that more games take longer to finish. That does not mean they take TOO long, but an increase in average total game time, which is intuitively very understandable. I have noticed similar lesser effects with the usual 30-move no-draw-offer rule, as in effect at the Olympiad. Sure, there have been a few 3-fold-rep draws before move 30, but I have seen players abort such sequences more often than just blindly and faithfully settling for an early draw when their teammates have long ways to go.
Anyway, it took me a few hours to get my head around this, and the French are building a case study for FIDE, for future consideration, but I think I like BANNED DRAW OFFERS! ;)
I am interested in what TDs and players think, especially players in the 1800-2200 range.
All the best, Aris in Istanbul.
Before I explain what they have been doing for about a year now (if memory serves), in my humble opinion, the two most irritating things in chess right now, have to do with draws :
1) "premature" (this word intended even for non-short games) draws by "mutual agreement"
2) annoying repeat draw offers (in my experience, mostly kids, but anyone low-etiquette)
Well, the chess federation of France came out swinging at these issues, and they have BANNED DRAW OFFERS. At first read, one wonders WHAT?! However, it actually seems to be "working" in certain ways. Their stats, still in the works, are confirming that there are less draws, that games tend to get played out more. If players really want to draw, they can engineer a 3-fold-rep, but what they are finding in France is that players often change their mind once the 3-fold-rep is getting built, especially if it is an unnatural contrived one, as players spot a subtlety that makes them change their mind. I guess there is probably also some new pressure to win rather than just draw, in order to keep up with player Jones.
This new rule of BANNED DRAW OFFERS also completely obliterates inappropriate draw offers. If I remember correctly, most TDs are penalizing them like they would for illegal moves (2 minutes each for the opponent, for the first 2 times, then forfeit for 3rd time).
The only "disadvantage", if considered that, is that more games take longer to finish. That does not mean they take TOO long, but an increase in average total game time, which is intuitively very understandable. I have noticed similar lesser effects with the usual 30-move no-draw-offer rule, as in effect at the Olympiad. Sure, there have been a few 3-fold-rep draws before move 30, but I have seen players abort such sequences more often than just blindly and faithfully settling for an early draw when their teammates have long ways to go.
Anyway, it took me a few hours to get my head around this, and the French are building a case study for FIDE, for future consideration, but I think I like BANNED DRAW OFFERS! ;)
I am interested in what TDs and players think, especially players in the 1800-2200 range.
All the best, Aris in Istanbul.
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