Russell Sherwood Monday, July 19, 2021
Have you ever lost rating points in a draw to a higher rated player? For those with even a rudimentary knowledge of elo based rating systems this seems a ludicrous suggestion but highlights a situation that an aspiring player should be aware of.
When you see a draw offer, the rating you see on the screen for your opponent (and yourself) is that from the start of the event.
This can be very different to the current reality, so always ensure you check the current player ratings and consider this information in your evaluation of the draw offer, not the start tournament ratings!
In essence, consider why the opponent has made a draw offer "now" (in calendar terms) - Is there an advantage/disadvantage for either player due to the timing
It is worth stating that this tip is really for those players who are concerned over the loss/gain of a fairly small number of elo!
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