Quite right: White has blundered. It seems he just did not appreciate how strong his game actually was, but that might have been due to his frustration looking for a decisive forcing line in situations in which they seemed unavailable. That they WERE available was perhaps not apparent owing to Black's calm manoeuvring, I don't know! Correct was 31.Qxg6ch Qxg6 32.Nxg6 Rd8 33.Rhg3 ... and White's 2 extra pawns should have been enough.

Returning the compliment.

The sudden reversal and re-reversal of fortunes must have been utterly demoralising. That is the only explanation for an oversight such as this.

Not just a Q up, Joe. White will be a K up in one move.

Many thanks Charles for another great annotation, I cannot see the white win though, would you perhaps say when you have time please. Could I ask if I should have accepted my opponents offer of a draw, I’ve thought about this a lot.

36.Qg7#. A game of fluctuating fortunes. There are several things that can be taken from this game. Clearly Black's stubborn defence for so long in a poor position frustrated White, who couldn't hit on a consistent plan to realise his advantages. That can save games. So from a general point of view Black gains kudos for his competitive spirit. On the matter of the draw offer, much depends upon how Black thought he stood. Objectively, at that point he had a losing game, but White didn't know that, and, it would appear, neither did Black. Objectively speaking, Black 'ought' (for a given value of 'ought') to have grabbed the draw offer with both hands, whilst offering prayers of gratitude to his deity of choice (yes, the position was that bad). SUBJECTIVELY, if he thought he had winning chances - however mistaken - he was right to turn it down. The third option was to run it by an interested third party: the team captain. knight-nite - I wouldn't lose any sleep over it; it's all part of one's chess education.

Incidentally I am his team captain. My view is by playing it out he learned lessons that he would not have learned if he had accepted.