From: cpf@alchemy.TN.Cornell.EDU (Courtenay Footman)
Subject: Rohde-Malpert (more)
Organization: Alchemy International, Ithaca, N.Y.
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 22:22:41 GMT

This is my (Rod Malpert's) response to Michael Rohde and Mark Ginsburg's 
comments about my offering  Grandmaster  Rohde a draw in the last round of 
the New York State Championship.  I was surprised by the dispute, but I have 
had little experience with the world of grandmaster chess or with being the 
lower-rated player in a money round.  I will therefore respond with respect 
to the comments of such strong and experienced players.  Also, I have the 
greatest personal respect for Joel Benjamin, a real chess gentleman, from 
whose party the posting was made.
 
From the posting and from my discussion with Grandmaster Rohde after the
game, I gather that he is upset with the draw offer itself and my manner of
offering the draw.
 
As for the offer itself, the situation was that a draw would give both players
nearly as much as a win: $450 I thought ($400 as it actually turned out) for 
a draw versus $500 for a win.  Whereas, a loss would have been catastrophic.  
On the board it was move 12, and Rohde had played a gambit to which I made a 
response that Watson's book on the English says creates equality and
drawishness.  (Of course with any gambit both sides have some resources for
winning and losing).  As for the players, Rohde is 1-1.5 classes higher than 
me, but I have often been offered draws in money rounds by people that far 
below me.  This was my reasoning in offering the draw.         
 
Grandmaster Rohde said afterward that the draw offer itself was inappropriate 
because:  (1)  He is a Grandmaster and I am a "virtual unknown"; (2) He was 
playing for FIDE points; (3) I had black; and (4) It was the opening.  
suspect (3) and (4) would not have concerned him so much if I had been
his peer.  The more important concern seems to be that he is a grandmaster and 
I am an "unknown."    I checked with other masters before the round to see 
if it was OK to offer a GM an early draw, and they said it was.  I can 
understand the Grandmaster's viewpoint, however, and out of deference to the 
GM title I will never offer a GM a draw again.  
 
As for my manner of offering the draw, Grandmaster Rohde was walking out of the
tournament room to the hall where the water and tournament postings were.  I
had just moved and met him at the water table and said, "I offer you a draw.  
My under-2400 prize would be thrown into the pot."  He made a "hmm" sound 
that I interpreted as promising and immediately went about twenty feet to the 
wallchart to check the standings. I interpreted this as serious consideration 
by him of my offer, and so I did not leave, but stood about five feet away for 
about ten seconds.  He motioned for me to leave. I frankly am not sure whether 
I started to say anything or not, but if I did, he cut me off before more 
than a word got out.
  
I was not aware that draws should be offered at the board or that it is wrong
to provide pertinent information with the draw such as: "My class money will 
be thrown in," or "Jones and Doe just drew on Board 1."  It would be wrong, 
however, to badger someone.  I did not think that I crossed that line.  
Grandmaster Rohde thinks that I did.  I apologize for getting myself anywhere 
near the line of propriety versus impropriety.   Perhaps the best way to avoid 
any misunderstanding is to offer draws only at the board. 
 
From now on I will offer draws only at the board and never against 
grandmasters!  Some may not apply this policy to themselves, but disputes 
like this are quite distasteful, and I suggest avoidance of them.
 
P.S.  My friend wanted to post the endgame because he found it fascinating as 
a spectator and is a network buff.  I am suggesting that he remove it since its
chess-interest is obscured by this controversy.  I will also remove this
letter soon, since it is primarily a private matter between me and 
Grandmaster Rohde.  However, I did want to post this for at least a short 
time so that others can benefit from considering these issues related 
to our gentlemanly game.