[Event "Branagan Cup 1977"]
[Site "Dublin IRL"]
[Date "1977.03.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Terry, Sean"]
[Black "Frain, John"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Board "4"]
[WhiteTeam "Dublin"]
[BlackTeam "Dundrum"]
[WhiteNationality "ENG"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "471089"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[ECO "D53"]
[Opening "QGD"]
[Variation "4.Bg5 Be7"]
[EventType "team"]
[Source "Sean Terry"]
[WhiteFullName "Terry, Seán"]
[URL "https://www.irlchess.com/games_archive/sundry_files_2014-07/terry-frain-branagan-1977.htm"]
[LastModified "Tue Oct  3 18:48:58 2023"]

{ Round: f } { Source: Seán Terry (full game score); Disinformator 6
(annotation of conclusion). } { References: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/2011/12/24/disinformatortm/">Disinformator<sup>TM</sup></a>,
IRLchess, December 24, 2011. } { Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sundry/walsh-curtin-branagan-1977.jpg">Match
scorecard</a>, J. J. Walsh scorebook. }

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!! } (
36... Rdd2 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. }) (36... Rdd2 { What decided me
against playing } 37. a3+ { , and accepting the draw, was not the variation
above&mdash;I'm not <em>that</em> Irish&mdash;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. <em>(Nor, incidentally, was I. Sorry,
JJ.)'</em>&mdash;Se&aacute;n Terry. }) 1/2-1/2