Remember the old saying: "Before the endgame the gods have placed the middlegame!" And this is the war-cry of all gambiteers. One side (usually white) gives up a little material for an advantage in development and trading to an endgame is one thing he is trying to avoid! The gambit player is looking for a fight from the beginning and is committed to a slugfest, although there are gambits which rely on longer-term space advantages (the Benko or Volga Gambit for example). Some gambits can be safely declined, but it is generally agreed that the only way to refute a gambit is to accept it. I agree with this theory.

There is 50-move rule which states that if there are no captures or pawn moves for 50 moves, a draw claim must be honored. With the advent of computer solving of some of the pawnless endgames, this rule has been extended for certain positions. However, in the game with your friend a different rule takes precedence: neither side had mating material and so your friend could have claimed a draw immediately.

Here are the ways a game may be drawn: 1) by mutual agreement 2) Stalemate (one side cannot make a legal move, but is not in check), 3) Perpetual check (one side cannot escape being checked forever), 4) Insufficient mating material, 5) the 50-move rule, 6) Repetition (where the same position occurs three times during a game, with the same side to move).

Those are all sound responses. As I've said before, play openings that make you feel comfortable with the types of middlegame situations you find yourself getting into. If you are an attacking player, dont use openings that give you solid but cramped positions. Although the resulting positions may well be defendable, you will feel frustrated and you cannot play your best game like this.....If you like tactical play, then play openings that are chock-full of sharp lines....this will keep your interest in the game and test the abilities that you are trying to develop.