I get that. My point is, it doesn't NEED to work like that. Especially if not working like that would be an improvement.
My problem is that I'm not positive whether or not this change would be an improvement, merely a useless neutral change, or a detrimental subtraction away from a healthy and functional system. That's why this thread was started.
I much agree with #20. Draw is half win half loss, and result in rating change. Drawing against someone much higher rated than you is an achievement. Draws can't be discarded by the rating system, because they are too frequent and because counting them compensate for the unfair advantage white has.
If the position is indeed a dead draw, you should call it a draw and the rating change should apply.
If you want no rating change, it's not a draw you are looking for. I much disagree with #19, calling something "draw" and not applying rating change is the obfuscating way to solve your problem, as it violates the rating system and thus goes against the common sense of anyone knowing how a chess rating system works, and besides, it's equally complex to implement than an abort button.
If you are already given a choice to the player, a third option would not hurt much. And this option could come in replacement of the draw call. To be perfectly fair, there should also be a call defeat button (oh wait, you can resign*).
And to answer to #12, the abort button cancels the game, with no rating change, but would only be available (and visible) in case one opponent have disconnected. It works exactly how you would like some draw call to behave except it has another name so that we don't have to explicitely mention that there is no point change (and even if it has to be explained into a mousover or something, a new well named option is less confusing than an ambiguous draw button). And the opponent of the player that got disconnected could still call a win.
So unless you got a magic way to make your opponent disonnect, you can't abuse it, and in that case, you can already call a win.
*actually #17 says you can't. I think it would be better to be able to.
TL;DR : draw = (win + loss)/2
If you want someting else, the simple way is to call it something else.
#16 I'm fairly certain OP's question was rhetorical rather than philosophical.
#18 How does it make sense to "declare draw" (or for that matter, "declare victory") after both players have only played 1 move?
#24 If someone play the Hammerschlaugh/Fried fox/Pork chop opening for example. 1. f3 e5 2. Kf2 or opens with 1. g4, Na3 or Nh3 and disconnects it makes some sense to declare win because that player at least has a very disadvantageous position, although it surely can lead to other results.
But my point wasn't that these 3 options always make sense, more that a fair player can have other options than "claim win" if he/she wants to be more fair.
If lost or very drawish position. - claim draw
If won position or winning chances. - claim win
If game just started and position is very equal. - Claim abort
...or what ever he/she thinks is fair.
But I think the "claim win" option should always be there because players can otherwise abuse and disconnect because they don't like the opening for example.
#21 I understand what you mean but it's a well-established rule in chess that "draw" leads to rating change in accordance. Changing this would cause lots of confusion. Then better not calling it a "draw" in such a case.
