The leaders ‘in the barn’ for this year’s Western are IM Stas Smetankin and NM Alex Betaneli, both with 2.5 points. Two other players, including IM Angelo Young have a chance to overtake them with decisive results in this round. NM Steven Szpisjak and Rene Glen Ancheta are the others in the field still playing [...]

Here I sit between rounds at the Western Open, watching the same scene play out once again. Short, quick draws as the players jockey themselves into position to share out the prizes.
It’s a problem in chess, but it’s a problem that really cannot be solved with any practical effect. Banning draw offers simply opens the [...]