Winning a lost game

In this game Game 940403 I got a lost position and a very interesting one.



Here white surprised me with a deep exchange sacrifice;
22.Rxa3!! Bxa3 but after 23. Qh4 Bf8
(If 23... h5 24. f5!! is still stronger if 23... Re8 24. Rh3 h5 25. Bxh5!)
my opponent missed the winning line
24. f5!! Qxa4
(other lines aren't good, for example:
a) 24... Bg7 25. fxg6 fxg6 26. Qe7 Qxa4 27. Rf7 Bf8 28. Qf6 Re8 29. Nf4 Bh6 30. Rxh7!
b) 24... Rc4 25. fxg6 fxg6 26. Rh3 h6 27. Qf6
c) 24... exf5 25. e6 Bg7 26. Rh3 h5 27. Bxh5! Bxe6 28. Bxg6!
d) 24...Re8 25. Rh3 h6 26. fxg6 fxg6 27. Qf6 Bg7 28. Qxg6 Re7 29. Rxh6 Rf7 30. Bh5
e) 24... Rc6 25. fxg6 fxg6 26. Qf6 Bh6 27. Qf7+ Kh8 28. Nf4 and white wins)
25. fxg6 fxg6
(Or 25...Qa1+ 26. Bg1!)
26. Rh3 h6 27. Qf6 Qxc2 28. Bxe6+ Bxe6
(If 28... Kh7 29. Bg8+! Kxg8 30. e6)
29. Qxe6+ Kh7 30. Qf7+ Bg7 31. e6 Rg8 32. Be3 Qd1+ 33. Ng1 h5 34.e7 b5
(If 34... Rxc3 35. Qxg8+ Kxg8 36. e8=Q+ Kh7 37. Qd7 d4 38. Bh6!! if 34... Qb1 35. Rxh5+)
35. Bd4 b4 36. Rg3 Qb1
(If 36... Qc2 37. e8=Q - also 37. Rg5 seems good for white - 37...Rcxe8 38. Bxg7 Rxg7 39. Qxe8 b3 40. Rf3 b2 41. Rf8)
37. Bxg7 Rxg7 38. e8=Q Rxe8 39. Qxe8 b3 40. Rf3 b2 41. Qb8! Re7 42. Rf8 and black is lost.
Some of the variations are quite pretty!

that's a very deep move indeed; I wonder if Deep Fritz would have found it.

I say a "lost" game for normal chess players under 1700 or so is totally different than a lost game for 1700+. Different skill levels etc,
so while mere mortals may lose the game Ironman is displaying, I'd wager that 1700+ players have a much greater chance of winning or drawing than mere mortals do.

chosen

Originally posted by chosenone6666
I say a "lost" game for normal chess players under 1700 or so is totally different than a lost game for 1700+. Different skill levels etc,
so while mere mortals may lose the game Ironman is displaying, I'd wager that 1700+ player ...[text shortened]... eater chance of winning or drawing than mere mortals do.

chosen