Online Correspondence Game
Date completed: April 11, 2005
I really believed that I had a winning position after 48...h4; therefore, I was very surprised when Jon offered me a draw after that move! I thought I had overlooked something--was a draw that obvious??? I played it out OTB for several hours over a few days and wrote down a few possible continuations; most of the lines I played ended up winning (there were a few draws).
Perhaps it was my selection of 49.h3 that sealed the draw. I thought it was the safest and most sure way to win, figuring that his King would be out of position, allowing my King to attack his pawns. For some reason, I didn't figure on opposition (see below).
In case you're wondering why it's a draw, White's King will have opposition after taking the Queen, either immediately (56.Kxg1 Kxf4 55.Kf2; 56.Kxg1 Kg4 57.Kg2) or eventually (56.Kxg1 Kg5 57.Kg2 Kg4 58.Kf2 Kxf4 59.Ke2 Ke4 60.Kd2 Kd4 61.Kc2 draw).