Battle between black and white – know when to accept the handshake

If you make your chess moves without following any principles, then you lose quickly and you don’t even understand why.
Let’s look at another interesting technicality that arises in this game.

The following actually happened at a chess tournament:

Both players are relative beginners but white is a little more experienced than black. Suddenly white puts out his hand without saying a word. Black shakes white’s hand. Then black makes a move that puts white into checkmate.

Two possible scenarios:
• White offered a draw – black accepted. Unfortunately black does not know the laws adequately – the draw result stands.
• In the spirit of chess – black genuinely accepted white’s congratulations – did not know a draw was being offered – would not have accepted such an offer – and therefore gets the win.

What should the arbiter rule?
It’s not clear who is actually telling the truth. White probably offered a draw (to get away with at least 0,5 and not 0 – he is a bit more experienced and could know this “trick”) – black thought he congratulated him on his win.

Based on the fact that there is no “hard evidence” of an actual draw offer (it’s the word of the one player against the other), the checkmate will stand.

What should a player do when an opponent puts out a hand?

The outstretched hand, without any verbalisation or inaudible verbalisation, is problematic.

Some suggest it is an offer for a draw, other a sign of resignation.
One should never assume. Clearly ask the opponent offering the hand, “Do you resign?” and not to take the hand unless the answer is affirmative.

This is especially important to teach younger, less-experienced players.