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I know that the rule states "The game is drawn upon agreement between the two players. This immediately ends the game." but what I'm interested in knowing the exact way to offer a draw because I've never played at a club (always played online, where you simply click the 'Offer draw' button). So do you actually say "Draw?" or "Do you extend your hand after you play your move?" Just wanted to know the norm.

Sean Bernardino
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  • I'd like to add that it's pretty weak to offer a draw when you're in a dead lost position. – Tony Ennis Jul 31 '13 at 22:49
  • @TonyEnnis when you say dead lost do you also mean when stalemate isn't possible? – MDMoore313 Aug 01 '13 at 12:28
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    @MDMoore313 I mean, when it is clear that one has no appreciable chance to avoid the loss. A player should either resign or play on. A player should not try to salvage the half-point by asking (begging!) for a draw. – Tony Ennis Aug 02 '13 at 11:36
  • There's no one right way to communicate it, but you should make your move first and then offer a draw. – Inertial Ignorance Sep 29 '19 at 00:09

2 Answers2

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In tournament play, you make your move on the board, state your offer clearly (I say "I offer a draw" and make eye contact to make sure I am understood), then press your clock.

dfan
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  • Maybe I watch too much TV (I know I watch too much TV), do you also extend your hand as if you're requesting a handshake to agree? – MDMoore313 Aug 01 '13 at 12:29
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    I do not extend my hand until the draw offer is accepted. I think it is impolite to force someone to decline a handshake. If both players obviously already agree that it is a draw (e.g., perpetual check or a theoretical drawn endgame) then the verbal offer is more of a formality, so you see players do things like just nod their heads and shake hands. But it is better to be safe than sorry. There have many instances of players extending their hand thinking they were offering a draw while their opponent thought they were resigning. – dfan Aug 01 '13 at 12:45
  • Yeah I think I've done the head nod in the past, good point about the misconstrued resignation. – MDMoore313 Aug 01 '13 at 12:51
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    Sometimes, when playing international tournaments, your opponent do not always understand what you say. Then many make a little X with their pointy fingers at the same time. This peace symbol seems to be understood by most. In addition, in FIDE regulated tournaments you are supposed to write the equal symbol (=) on your score sheet in front of your last move to indicate your draw offer. And finally, for really fancy tournaments, sometimes you are not allowed to ask your opponent directly, but have to ask the tournament director first. – Halvard Aug 01 '13 at 13:06
  • Exactly what I do. In order to decline a properly offered draw, simply make your move. – JP Alioto Aug 01 '13 at 21:34
  • @JP Alioto Good point, the etiquette of receiving a draw offer is important too! Unless I accept the offer immediately, I feel it is polite to say "I'll consider it" in response, so that the opponent knows that their offer has been understood. After that, there is no need to verbally decline if you decide to play on; you can just make your move. – dfan Aug 02 '13 at 01:13
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    @MDMoore313: Extending your hand is a way to [i]accept[/i] a draw. Maybe that's what you saw on TV. –  Aug 16 '13 at 06:51
  • i have to offer on my move? i've seen lots of draw offers that are on opponent's move eg magnus carlsen shortest game w/c was against vidit – BCLC Aug 24 '21 at 04:23
  • The approved method is as described above but players do not always follow it. See my first comment to this answer. FIDE Laws of Chess 9.1.b(1): "A player wishing to offer a draw shall do so after having made a move on the chessboard and before stopping his clock and starting the opponent’s clock. An offer at any other time during play is still valid but Article 12.6 must be considered." 12.6: "It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever. This includes [...] unreasonable offers of a draw." – dfan Aug 24 '21 at 23:31
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To add to the answer posted by @dfan (who is correct on all counts), the draw offer is only good for that move. If you make a move, then offer a draw, and your opponent makes a move, then the draw offer is implicitly declined.

Charles Yu
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    Good point - USCF rules say that even "touching a piece deliberately" declines the draw. This is due to touch move considerations (touching a piece may force an inferior move and the player who offered the draw may not want a draw after the opponent touches a piece!). – Andrew Aug 04 '13 at 05:06