A very hard fought game.

31.u9 is necessary because 31.h11 32.i10 33.i9 34.k9 35.l8 36.n4 37.n9 38.s4 39.s2 40.r6 41.q7 42.u5 43.p5 44.q3 wins for black. u9 has the effect of taking the sting out of black's r6 in this sequence, so black has to play |32.g10 or something to connect to the left.

|33.u18 looks like my best shot. Contrary opinions are invited!

Black could not play 38.s14 because of 39.p13!

I don't see any way to avoid the draw. For example 43.w19 44.t17 45.u17 46.v21 47.s16 48.q21 and I lose.

Okay I try to place my first comment on this site...

I thought 31.u9 wouldn't hurt me but 33.u18 proved the difference: In the end I even nearly lost the game.

Maybe the outcome would be different, if I would play 34.t20. I haven't checked all possible answers, but I think 35.r19 is one of the strongest, correct me if I'm wrong. The following sequence is forced: 36.n13 37.t11 38.s13 39.u13 40.s17! Now I think I've reached a winning position...

34.t20 35.r19 36.n13 37.t11 38.s13 39.u13 40.s17 41.o16 42.p19 43.s19 then what?

Yeah o16 was actually the reason why I didn't play 34.t20. But what's with 42.q21? This move takes the strong 43.s19 out of white's possibilities.

34.t20 35.r19 36.n13 37.t11 38.s13 39.u13 40.s17 41.o16 42.q21 43.u22 44.s20 45.v20 46.u16 47.p18 48.p19 49.s19 which I did not see during the game, but I would like to think that I would have.

You're right. the p18 threat is too strong, if your q15-o16 has a two possibilities to connect to the top. So I'm asking me, what would happen if I would play 34.t20 35.r19 36.o14. What would you play?

Hmm I guess that wouldn't change anything, lucky I played in the end like this... if I want to win this one I probably should have made a different move much earlier in the game... but because that would be pure speculation and we had to play the game a 2nd time then, I don't go looking for some moves. Now after this analyzing I think we played both close to perfect at the end (means move 34+). I can't see any chance to win for me or David.

34.t20 35.r19 36.o14 37.t11 looks pretty much the same as the line where you played n13, except now I can play p17 instead of o16 if I want to, because I have the resource m14. But I don't see why I would even need to bother with that. o16 still works, doesn't it? Let's say I would make exactly the same moves as in your n13 line. How would you take advantage of the difference?

Sorry I didn't see your final post :-)