Offering a draw

Hello,

Is it rude or a good tactic to offer a draw in the hope that your opponent accepts when you know you are at a slight disadvantage in the game?

I have done this twice (in two different games) thinking it would be a good tactic, but both times the offer was declined and so I'm wondering if perhaps I was being rude.

Thanks for any advice on when and when not to offer a draw.

 Perhaps it shows a little disrespect to your opponent? Personally I try to force a draw in such situations.

The player with the advantage should be the one offering the draw. I think this is normal etiquette. A draw should also be offered after making a move, not before.

A better tactic is to outplay your opponent from that slightly worse position and win the game

Well, it´s rather subjective, but one thing is for sure:

It´s rude to offer a draw when you are in great disadvantage, say a piece down with no positional compensation, for ex., unless...

... you have 10 min in your clock and your opponent only 30 seg,

or

...you both have the same time, you are a piece down but you are playing with a guy 400 points under your rank and you know it´s likely that you can outmanouver him still the same...and he knows that also, maybe he is just longing to get a draw proposal from you because he is thinking it´s rude for him to make that proposal, considering the rank...

Anyway, there is no problem in making a draw proposal if there is just a slight disadavantage, let´s say, a pawn less in a rook ending, because many times such positions are not easy to win in pratical play, or are not possible to win at all, at least within the time limit.

Thank you for your comments and tips, they are a great help. 

Au303

My take is slightly different than what others have said.

If I'm in a position that is very unclear, but I think I'm worse (or I think it's equal), then I will feel fine offering a draw, and would have no issues is someone offered me a draw in a position they felt they were behind in.

If I'm in a position where I'm obviously defending a worse position (KBvKPP, for instance, or KRvKRP) then I think it's very bad form for me to offer a draw, and would be annoyed if someone offered me a draw if the situation were reversed. In this case, both parties know that one side is playing for a win without risk, and so they will offer a draw as soon as they are willing to concede the draw to their opponent. There is nothing to be gained from the player who is behind offering a draw, since both players already know that they are interested in a draw.