diff --git a/src/evaluate.cpp b/src/evaluate.cpp
index b5b51d2c..fdfacc10 100644
--- a/src/evaluate.cpp
+++ b/src/evaluate.cpp
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ namespace {
 namespace Eval {
 
   Color RootColor;
+  Value ValueDrawContempt;
 
   /// evaluate() is the main evaluation function. It always computes two
   /// values, an endgame score and a middle game score, and interpolates
@@ -307,6 +308,8 @@ namespace Eval {
         KingDangerTable[1][i] = apply_weight(make_score(t, 0), Weights[KingDangerUs]);
         KingDangerTable[0][i] = apply_weight(make_score(t, 0), Weights[KingDangerThem]);
     }
+
+    ValueDrawContempt = VALUE_DRAW - Options["Contempt Factor"] * PawnValueMg / 100;
   }
 
 
diff --git a/src/evaluate.h b/src/evaluate.h
index a0418b79..9c2b2a61 100644
--- a/src/evaluate.h
+++ b/src/evaluate.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class Position;
 namespace Eval {
 
 extern Color RootColor;
+extern Value ValueDrawContempt;
 
 extern void init();
 extern Value evaluate(const Position& pos, Value& margin);
diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index 31edcc2f..77300708 100644
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ namespace {
     {
         // Step 2. Check for aborted search and immediate draw
         if (Signals.stop || pos.is_draw<false>() || ss->ply > MAX_PLY)
-            return VALUE_DRAW;
+            return Eval::ValueDrawContempt;
 
         // Step 3. Mate distance pruning. Even if we mate at the next move our score
         // would be at best mate_in(ss->ply+1), but if alpha is already bigger because
@@ -1101,7 +1101,7 @@ split_point_start: // At split points actual search starts from here
 
     // Check for an instant draw or maximum ply reached
     if (pos.is_draw<true>() || ss->ply > MAX_PLY)
-        return VALUE_DRAW;
+        return Eval::ValueDrawContempt;
 
     // Decide whether or not to include checks, this fixes also the type of
     // TT entry depth that we are going to use. Note that in qsearch we use
diff --git a/src/ucioption.cpp b/src/ucioption.cpp
index bbbbbbf9..1cdd4f2b 100644
--- a/src/ucioption.cpp
+++ b/src/ucioption.cpp
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ void init(OptionsMap& o) {
   o["Search Log Filename"]         = Option("SearchLog.txt");
   o["Book File"]                   = Option("book.bin");
   o["Best Book Move"]              = Option(false);
+  o["Contempt Factor"]             = Option(0, -50,  50, on_eval);
   o["Mobility (Middle Game)"]      = Option(100, 0, 200, on_eval);
   o["Mobility (Endgame)"]          = Option(100, 0, 200, on_eval);
   o["Passed Pawns (Middle Game)"]  = Option(100, 0, 200, on_eval);