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Originally Posted by R Gibert
BTW, why do you think the idea I gave would not work? How would it not work?
It's too complicated, and further, if players are already agreeing to draw, why would they not just agree to both bid 15, and agree to a draw on move 16?
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The problem with this is that any player who is offered a draw should always decline it, since it means he can never lose unless he stupidly allows himself to be checkmated or lose on time. In other words, once a player has been offered a draw, he is on a freeroll and can sac pieces with abandon, knowing he can never lose.
What you have described is a point in favor of the rule change. Think of these scenarios -
Scenario 1) it's a tense game, it's not clear who's winning. White is considering a sacrificial line, but it's not clear whether it works or not. Black is sitting there terrified white is going to play it and he's going to be put in the Informant's games of the year book.
Current situation: black nervously offers a draw. White fearfully accepts. They retire to the analysis room to try to find out if it would work.
New situation: either: black nervously offers a draw. White puts the offer on hold and starts his sacrificial attack. If it works, amazing, we are all entertained and the world of chess is richer. If it fails, white accepts the draw, and we lose nothing.
Scenario 2) Position is dead drawn. Opposite color bishops and pawns all locked up. Black offers a draw. White is now freerolling!! White looks at the position and realizes there's no hope of anything but a draw and taking that time is just a waste of his time. White accepts draw.
Scenario 3) position is unclear but probably equalish; whoever plays better from this point will win. Both players consider offering a draw.
Current rules: someone offers a draw. The other accepts. Who cares.
New rules: both players realize they cannot offer a draw without ceding the freeroll. The game proceeds as a true fight.
The only real danger I think is that in scenario 2, the player being offered a draw chooses to play on just because he has nothing to lose, on the 1/1000 chance that his opponent messes up. I feel like this would become one of those unwritten rules in sport - yes you can do it, but you're wasting everyone's time.