user16427: I was watching the Candidates recently and noticed that the commentators talking about Wesley So’s last game got annoyed that he was aiming for a draw and didn’t really have any fight in him.
A draw was agreed after only 20 odd moves, and that got me thinking - if a top grandmaster were to aim for a draw against AlphaZero for instance, would they always manage?
Can a Grandmaster force a draw?

user12629: No.  It may be difficult to win against a top GM who is playing for a draw, but it's by no means impossible.
If GM's could always draw at will, we could stop all championship matches once either player won a game, since the outcome would be decided.  But we don't do that, because the outcome is not decided after one player gets one win.

16427: <p>I was watching the Candidates recently and noticed that the commentators talking about Wesley So’s last game got annoyed that he was aiming for a draw and didn’t really have any fight in him.</p>
<p>A draw was agreed after only 20 odd moves, and that got me thinking - if a top grandmaster were to aim for a draw against AlphaZero for instance, would they always manage?
Can a Grandmaster force a draw?</p>
 12629: <p>No.  It may be difficult to win against a top GM who is playing for a draw, but it's by no means impossible.</p>

<p>If GM's could <em>always</em> draw at will, we could stop all championship matches once either player won a game, since the outcome would be decided.  But we don't do that, because the outcome is <em>not</em> decided after one player gets one win.</p>
