This is my fourth games against MJF and the first with White, the score is 3-0. He represented England at the 1964 Olympiad. He played the Colle System against me like a constrictor. For years afterwards I tried to emulate his style, with only small success.

Today I have no idea why I did not play 13. Ne4 which keeps the first move advantage according to Stockfish who prefers Black after my retreat.

However after 20...NxBch Stockfish Likes White again.

26. f5!! is probably one of the best moves I ever made, ignoring the attack on my pawn by threatening to push on with check. But of course it gets taken.

Now Stockfish gets a big attack with a line I would never consider: 28. Ng3 Qxa2+ 29. Kh1 Qc2 30. Qf4 Qd3 31. Nxf5+ Kf8.

Anyway I see glimpses of a draw and play with that in hand.

I looked at 31. Kf1 and after a long while wrote in my diary 'I do not care for it'. I did not look so much at 31.Kf2! for example 31...Ne7 32. Qf6 Nxf5 33. Qxh8+ Ke7 34. Qf6+ Ke8 35. Qxf5 winning me a feather in my cap.

This all highlights that in correspondence Chess, although you have plenty of time, real life can make its mark. Good days and better days get mixed in over the months involved. Here taking a forced draw took pressure off other games. I do regret missing the winning line, but it is easy with Stockfish today.