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Chess 12 Feb 1960, Fri The News (Paterson, New Jersey) Newspapers.com
Chessically Yours by Henry Overeem
For the average woodpusher, myself included, it is hard to understand the so-called grand master draws. In this instance I refer in particular to the recent Benko-Reshevsky draw in tne Rosenwald. This happened early in the tournament, and at the time Reshevsky must have known that if he hoped to outscore Fischer he would need every half-point. Yet in this placid and very tame game he meekly settles for a draw. Both white and black seem over-cautious. Against a player of Reshevsky's calibre perhaps we should not blame Benko too much, thougn both are grandmasters in their own right. At the time of the short, 16 move, draw both sides had interesting counterplay, I do know that players of lesser rating would have slugged it out and accepted a draw only when it became forced. Some Leagues even specify that no draws can be agreed upon until after 40 moves and or four hours of playing time has elapsed. I would like to see a ruling such as this in grandmaster play, it would stimulate more aggressive play and certainly far, more interesting.
