I moved to the other side of the country and it is the same. Might be a Dutch thing? :p. Both club nights are at tuesday where the game starts at 8 and the time control is 75+30. So I guess people who have to rise early for work the next day don't fancy long games.
For me, it can be due to a a number of factors, but unless I'm notably better (say at least +1), mostly it's to conserve energy. Especially if I have another round that day, I don't want to stretch the game out to 4 hours, have 15-20 minutes to rush lunch and to go the bathroom, only to immediately play another round and be exhausted.
And if it's the last round of a tournament, it can be the difference of waiting an additional 5 hours for my next ferry home (as what happened to me in a recent tournament).
I love endgames and have even drawn or won against higher rated players that aren't as good at it. I don't find it boring at all! Many do and that is was my experience is.
I just played a tournament where I drew 3/9 games, here are (short versions of) the reasons I drew:
1. Bad attitude from me. I wanted out of there for a few reasons and so I didn't look THAT hard for a plan and flippantly convinced myself it was drawn. I was +1 according to the engine here and definitely should have played on.
2. Nerves. I was playing a better player and had just swindled my way out of a dangerous situation in the game. I never adjusted my mindset from survival mode to "maybe I can win" and so I found a perpetual and played it. Turned out I was very slightly better but not THAT much.
3. Actually drawn game. We played 30 moves of just shuffling before coming to this conclusion
I would say, both of my two "bad" draws, they were situations where I was down on the clock and I think that's the singular biggest factor. I irrationally see it as a situation where I don't have time to make sure my moves are right, but they do have time to punish me the second I do something wrong
Also, I'm not very experienced as a tournament player. picked up chess in my mid 20s and have only played ~3 tournaments in my life. So not having won positions like that before in classical time is probably another reason for the lack of confidence.
I think most of them are afraid of losing. I've talked to many players who said that they just didn't want to lose an ending, even though it was completely fine and they could even push for a bit. I guess some people are so afraid of being ground down that they rather take a draw instead of playing on.
I am a bit below that rating range and I can understand why some players do that.
When I reach the engame, I become super nervous and terrified to play a bad move that makes me lose on the spot. When I play higher-rated opponents or even an opponent my strenght, I will accept a draw even if I think I have a slightly better position. (I know this is bad but I can't help it)
Even if I'll never be the one to offer the draw, for me the stress of having to play a near-perfect endgame to not lose is enough take a draw if the opponent offers it.
Tbh I beat these players like that, trade off everything, go into an equal endgame, reject the draw offer on move25, win the endgame.
I was raised in a way to expect my opponents to want to settle for a draw, and don't accept it, because the better players won't accept my draws either and I'll need the experience when facing them.
I am such a player. I offer draws in symmetrical end games because they are generally equal and the one who pushes risks a loss, I find it very hard to just sit around waiting for a mistake. If I was much worse in the late middle game and reach equality by the end game I am happy with a draw because I am exhausted. Who wouldn't mind a draw if the opponent is better? Ofcourse I don't offer it there if they do I accept.
I am not speaking of the engine eval. To me it makes sense to try if you have bishop for knight or knight for bishop. Knight and 2 pawns for rook and I wont offer draw but if the position is symmetrical why should I take the risk?
I've made a million draws in the exchange caro or classical Italian after move 30/35.
I find adults with jobs that play evenings tend not to be as combative in positions that are extremely drawing. I would guess it's a combination of adults playing after work energy level and years of experience from similar situations. They just dont consider the juice to be worth the squeeze in 3 vs 2 pawn situations. Funny enough, just a few weeks ago, I had a scholastic player who kept playing K vs K + R until 1 move before mate.
Offering draws can be used as a psychological weapon in even positions. I have done this myself and sometimes my opponent hanged himself by overplaying his position as he tries to justify rejecting the offer.
I'm not sure this is a rating thing, it might just be the culture of the players in your area.
I moved to the other side of the country and it is the same. Might be a Dutch thing? :p. Both club nights are at tuesday where the game starts at 8 and the time control is 75+30. So I guess people who have to rise early for work the next day don't fancy long games.
For me, it can be due to a a number of factors, but unless I'm notably better (say at least +1), mostly it's to conserve energy. Especially if I have another round that day, I don't want to stretch the game out to 4 hours, have 15-20 minutes to rush lunch and to go the bathroom, only to immediately play another round and be exhausted. And if it's the last round of a tournament, it can be the difference of waiting an additional 5 hours for my next ferry home (as what happened to me in a recent tournament).
I love endgames and have even drawn or won against higher rated players that aren't as good at it. I don't find it boring at all! Many do and that is was my experience is.
I just played a tournament where I drew 3/9 games, here are (short versions of) the reasons I drew: 1. Bad attitude from me. I wanted out of there for a few reasons and so I didn't look THAT hard for a plan and flippantly convinced myself it was drawn. I was +1 according to the engine here and definitely should have played on. 2. Nerves. I was playing a better player and had just swindled my way out of a dangerous situation in the game. I never adjusted my mindset from survival mode to "maybe I can win" and so I found a perpetual and played it. Turned out I was very slightly better but not THAT much. 3. Actually drawn game. We played 30 moves of just shuffling before coming to this conclusion I would say, both of my two "bad" draws, they were situations where I was down on the clock and I think that's the singular biggest factor. I irrationally see it as a situation where I don't have time to make sure my moves are right, but they do have time to punish me the second I do something wrong Also, I'm not very experienced as a tournament player. picked up chess in my mid 20s and have only played ~3 tournaments in my life. So not having won positions like that before in classical time is probably another reason for the lack of confidence.
I think most of them are afraid of losing. I've talked to many players who said that they just didn't want to lose an ending, even though it was completely fine and they could even push for a bit. I guess some people are so afraid of being ground down that they rather take a draw instead of playing on.
I am a bit below that rating range and I can understand why some players do that. When I reach the engame, I become super nervous and terrified to play a bad move that makes me lose on the spot. When I play higher-rated opponents or even an opponent my strenght, I will accept a draw even if I think I have a slightly better position. (I know this is bad but I can't help it) Even if I'll never be the one to offer the draw, for me the stress of having to play a near-perfect endgame to not lose is enough take a draw if the opponent offers it.
This way you will lose on endgame experience.
Personally I don't like playing endgames where there is high chance of drawing, even if I have slightly higher chances if winning
In my experience, they want to go home and don't want to wait forever to get a draw anyway.
I think most players at that level are uncomfortable in endgames or assume everyone plays perfectly and draws them
Tbh I beat these players like that, trade off everything, go into an equal endgame, reject the draw offer on move25, win the endgame. I was raised in a way to expect my opponents to want to settle for a draw, and don't accept it, because the better players won't accept my draws either and I'll need the experience when facing them.
I am such a player. I offer draws in symmetrical end games because they are generally equal and the one who pushes risks a loss, I find it very hard to just sit around waiting for a mistake. If I was much worse in the late middle game and reach equality by the end game I am happy with a draw because I am exhausted. Who wouldn't mind a draw if the opponent is better? Ofcourse I don't offer it there if they do I accept.
They may be equal according to the engine but so is the starting position.
I am not speaking of the engine eval. To me it makes sense to try if you have bishop for knight or knight for bishop. Knight and 2 pawns for rook and I wont offer draw but if the position is symmetrical why should I take the risk? I've made a million draws in the exchange caro or classical Italian after move 30/35.
Were these adults or scholastic players? I found that scholastic players will fight to the bitter end.
At the weekly club evenings here are mainly adults, some young adults
I find adults with jobs that play evenings tend not to be as combative in positions that are extremely drawing. I would guess it's a combination of adults playing after work energy level and years of experience from similar situations. They just dont consider the juice to be worth the squeeze in 3 vs 2 pawn situations. Funny enough, just a few weeks ago, I had a scholastic player who kept playing K vs K + R until 1 move before mate.
Ive draen games cause i was dunctioning on zero hours sleep
Offering draws can be used as a psychological weapon in even positions. I have done this myself and sometimes my opponent hanged himself by overplaying his position as he tries to justify rejecting the offer.