1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 c6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. Nf3 Qb4+ 10. Qd2 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 Bf5 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. Kxd3 Nd7 14. Nd2 Ke7 15. Rhc1 Kd6 16. Rc2 f5 17. Rac1 a5 18. f3 Rhe8 19. e4 dxe4+ 20. fxe4 fxe4+ 21. Nxe4+ Kd5 22. Rf1 Rxe4 23. Rf5+ Ne5+ 24. dxe5 Rxe5 25. Rf7 b5 26. Rxg7 Rd8 27. Rf2 h5 28. Rg6 Kc5+ 29. Kc2 Rd4 30. Rd2 Rc4+ 31. Kd1 a4 32. Rdd6 Kb4 33. Rxc6 Rd4+ 34. Kc2 Re2+ 35. Kb1 Rd1+ 36. Rc1 Rdd2

'Playing for Dublin C.C. in the final of the Branagan (knock-out cup) in 1977, I reached the diagrammed position, by which time (a) I was in terrible time trouble and stressed; (b) I had to win, as otherwise the match would be lost on board count. Black had just played Rd1-d2, threatening mate in two, and offered a draw. Notwithstanding the fact that I could see the following (fairly obvious) variations, I accepted!!

37. a3+ Ka5 (37... Kb3 38. Rc3#) 38. Rcc6 b4 39. Rc5#, a point which was reinforced seconds later when an exodus of kibitzers descended to demonstrate the forced win.

What decided me against playing 37. a3+, and accepting the draw, was not the variation above—I'm not that Irish—but the following analysis: 37... Ka5 38. Rcc6 Rxb2+ 39. Ka1 (?) 39... Ra2+ 40. Kb1 Rxa3, where Black escapes the mate and wins. Of course 39. Ka1 is a ??schlocker?? of a move, but I hadn't realised that 39. Kc1 was possible: in my mind's eye, it was still occupied by the rook. Stress had refused to erase the image from my brain. A convincing explanation to me, although my team-mates weren't all that delighted at the time. (Nor, incidentally, was I. Sorry, JJ.)'—Seán Terry.

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Source(s): Seán Terry (full game score); Disinformator 6 (annotation of conclusion).

Reference(s): Disinformator^TM, IRLchess, December 24, 2011.

Event information: Match scorecard, J. J. Walsh scorebook.

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