Last night, I felt a moment of positive exhilaration when I had a forced mate in three, I won on time with 0.1 seconds left. It was a thrilling moment!
It was a three minute game with no increment. At move 32, White was under one minute remaining. At move 40, Black was under one minute. After move 50, White had 11.4 seconds and Black had 21. The position was equal
52...d2 and Black is better.
53.fxg5 Kxg5 54.Rg1+ Kf5 55.Rf1+ Ke5
56.Rd1 Ke6 57.Rxd3 Rxd3 58.Kxd3
The exchange restores the material balance, but also makes the game easier, especially for Black.
58...Kd5
Seizing the opposition.
59.Ke3
59.Kd2 Kc4 60.Kc2 d5 was possible and also equal.
It seems that the clock will decide the result.
59...Kc4 60.Kd2 d5
60...Kb3 61.Kd3 and Black almost certainly will err with so little time. 61...Ka3 would be the only move.
61.Kc2 d4
Time for both players is precariously short. White has been moving slightly faster than Black.
We have reached a simple pawn ending that should be drawn, although only Black can win on time after White loses the last pawn.
63...Kd3 64.Ka3 Kc3 65.Ka2 Kxb4
A game losing blunder, but only if Black does not run out of time. If Black's clock expires, the game is drawn.
66...Kb3 67.Ka1 b4 68.Kb1 Ka3!
Lots of endgame practice and study and I instantly knew that my king had to go to the a-file to preserve the winning advantage. Nonetheless. 0.9 seconds came off the clock.
The shortest distance to mate. Again, I found this move instantly because I've been in this position against the computer many times, but it still took 0.9 seconds off the clock.
White had 2.8 seconds to Black's 1.5.
74.Kd4 Kb3 75.Ke3 Kc3
White's last 1.9 seconds expired while Black had 0.1 remaining. The game could have been drawn. What a feeling to play the last 25 moves in 21 seconds!
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