19 May 2007

Pre-computer Postal Chess

The first time I looked through my old postal games using a computer, I found this. In the diagrammed position, Black, who has sacrificed a piece for an attack, played 22...Qh1+, and offered a draw that I accepted.

73Nf-15
Gregory, Vazgen

Weeks, Mark
(After 22.Kg2-f1)
[FEN "r3r1k1/1p3p1p/2pp2p1/p3b2P/2PN4/4BP2/PP1QNn1q/1R2RK2 b - - 0 22"]

The computer quickly finds a win for Black with 22...Nh1, when there is no defense to 23...Bf4. I remember that I accepted the draw thinking that I had nothing better than 23.Kxf2 Qh2+ 24.Kf1 Qh3+ with a perpetual. It looks, however, like there's still a fight: 23.Ng1 Nh3 24.Qg2 (also interesting is 24.hxg6 Bf4 25.gxf7+ Kxf7 26.Qg2 Qxg2+ 27.Kxg2 Bxe3 28.Rxe3 Rxe3 29.Nxh3) 24...Qxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Bxd4 26.Bxd4 Nf4+ 27.Kh2 gxh5 (27...Nxh5) 28.Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.Bb6 d5 30.Kg3.

We were both master rated correspondence players, but we both overlooked 22...Nh1. There must be many old correspondence games that contain undiscovered tactical tricks.

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