That is disturbing that 76% of Norway Chess games this year were all draws.

He mentions the fact that elite events are smaller pool of players and they know each other too well. To me only solution is to increase the pool of players. Making them play opens would help a lot.

But it is not politically correct (¿) to say it, but honestly, based on their games, some players simply often have no balls to stop playing too safe with White and only with aim of drawing as Black. That problem looks to me much harder to solve if some still stubborn to have this mindset no matter what game they play.

Leon_Trotsky wrote on 05/06/19 at 03:37:40:

Do you really think the 2700 player would allow these positions, where indeed he might just lose? Can you give examples of this thing happening?

Leon_Trotsky wrote on 04/30/19 at 23:13:08:


The best players tend to cancel each other out, especially at classical time controls. Not that I mind seeing best vs best match-ups, but we must objectively recognize the fact that far more draws occur at this level. Yes, not all draws are boring, but the fact remains. Perhaps more elite rapid events could help here.

OTOH, best vs lesser player encounters produce more decisive and instructive games for both spectators and students of the game. This is hard to ignore, imo.

We should expect/demand more of FIDE to help bring about the type of events we want to see.

LeeRoth wrote on 04/30/19 at 04:32:06:


So, just computer games, then?

I want to see the best play the best.  I don’t want to see 2700s crushing lower-rated players in Open tournaments.

It doesn't look to me like this thread is either about banning elite-only tournaments or having only 'Swiss' opens. Rather, there is an interest that some of us have expressed in having Elite players being tested in an open 'pool' type of tournaments, which Opens are generally all about.

This would be expected to produce more decisive results, a need to win with Black (mainly vs lower rated players), and probably more accurate ratings overall.

"Correct" openings are what elite GMs like to say to justify playing them. If 1...e5 and QGD are only correct, there would not be all these Grandmaster Repertoire on Pirc Defence or Modern Benoni 

What about the craziness that Jobawa and Grandelius play ¿ How can they maintain 2700+ yet play what most elite GMs would consider as horrible openings ¿ 

Honestly if a lower rated wants to draw with White all the time they play higher rated, e.g. 2300 playing 2700+ GM, then criticism is deserved on their side too. A lower rated who does that is 1) cobard and 2) is actively harming themselves trying to hold a position where higher rated can simply outplay them both on mindset and on board. 

Try playing Exchange against Paco Vallejo's French Defence, or symmetrical line against Caruana's Petrov Defence. I guarantee that it would be endless mental suffering trying to get a draw the entire game. I think anyone who has tried grovelling for draw against elite GM will find that it backfired horrendously. If 2700+ cannot beat 2300 who tries to draws with them all the times, then honestly how did they get to 2700 ¿¡ And how did the 2300 get to 2300 with such a terrible tournament strategy ¿¡  

I think that telling elite GMs that they have to play Reykjavík Open or Gibraltar Open, or any other big opens to get recognition as others said above is good step. If they are that good they have to play with everyone.