Wohl-Emms
4NCL Round 2
Slough vs. Wood Green

It's difficult to believe now, but only a few moves earlier my opponent had been in virtual zugzwang. Now, just after the first time control, White has suddenly sprung out and threatens mate in one by e3-e4. Of course, I hadn't been totally idle myself, but as I was pushing my c and d-pawns to their coronation I just hadn't realised how much "counterplay" White would obtain.
1...Rd3
There are two other ways to avoid mate.
1)1...Nd4+ (as far as I could see, this only leads to a draw) 2 exd4 c2 3 Rh5+ Ke6 (3...Kf6 4 Nxd7+ Rxd7 5 Rhh1 Rxd4 6 Ke3 cxd1Q 7 Rxd1 Rxa4 8 Rxd2 with a drawn position) 4 Rh6+ Kd5 5 Rhh1 Rh7 6 Rxd2 Rxh1 7 Rxc2 and I felt that this should be a draw
2) 1...Nc5!? (I overlooked this simple move) 2 Ng4 (threatening 3 e4+ Nxe4 4 Ne3 mate!) 2...Ne4 3 Rh5+! Ke6 (3...Kg6 4 Ne5+!) 4 f5+ Ke7 5 Kxe4 c2 6 Rh7+ Kf8 7 Rh8+ Kg7 8 Rhh1 and I get the feeling that Black should be winning, but there's nothing obvious.
2 Rh5+ Kf6 3 Rh6+ Kf5 4 Rh5+ Kf6 5 Rh6+ Kg7
Going for it!
6 Rhh1!
The only move. 6 Rg6+? Kf8 7 Rf6+ Ke7 8 Rf7+ Ke6 9 Rc7 Nc5 10 Nxd3 Rxd3 11 Ke2 c2 12 Rxd2 c1Q 13 Rxd3 Qc4 is winning for Black. Now White threatens a devastating check on g1.
6...Kf8
6...c2? loses after 7 Rdg1+ Kf8 8 Rh8+ Ke7 9 Rg7+ Kd6 (or 9...Kf6 10 Rg6+ Ke7 11 Rh7+ Kf8 12 Rf7+ Ke8 13 Rg8 mate) 10 Rxd8+ Kc5 11 Nxd3+ and White wins.
7 Ke4?
Played very quickly by my opponent, who was obviously enjoiying hi new found freedom of movement. In fact, as far as I can see, 7 Rh8+ forces a draw, for example 7...Ke7 8 Rh7+ Kd6? (8...Kf6 9 Rh6+ is a draw by perpetual) 9 Nxd3 c2 10 Ke2 Rg8 11 Rxd2 Rg2+ 12 Nf2+ Nxd2 13 Kxd2 Rxf2+ 14 Kc1 and it's White who has the winning chances.
7...R3d5
7...c2!? 8 Nxd3 Rxd3 9 Kxd3 c1Q 10 Rxc1 dxc1Q 11 Rxc1 Nxc1+ 12 Kd4 looks like a draw, but Black can win with 7...Nc5+ 8 Kf5 c2 9 Rdg1 Ke7! 10 Rh7+ Kd6 and the black king escapes.
8 Rdg1 d1Q?
Black has two other possibilities, one losing and one winning:
1) 8...c2? 9 Rh8+ Ke7 10 Rg7+ Kd6 11 Rxd8+ Kc5 12 Rxd5+ and White wins.
2) 8...Ke7! (Speelman suggested this idea: Black must sacrifice a rook in order to "run to the hills" with his king) 9 Nc6+ Kd6 10 Nxd8 Kc5 and despite the extra rook White is losing, for example 11 Ne6+ Kc4 12 Nd4 Nxd4 13 exd4 Rxd4+ 14 Ke3 c2 15 Rd1 Kc3 16 f5 cxd1Q 17 Rxd1 Kc2.
9 Rh8+ Ke7 10 Nc6+!
I had missed this move, which forces perpetual. 10 Rg7+? Kd6 11 Rxd8+ Kc5 12 Rc7+ Kb4 13 Rxd5 Qh1+ 14 Nf3 Nd2+ is winning for Black.
10...Ke7 11 f5+ Kf7 12 Rh7+ Kf8 13 Rh8+ Kf7 14 Rh7+ Kf8 15 Rh8+ 1/2-1/2