rwbean: I got here from Fishbein's Wikipedia page ... interesting choice of game.Going through this with Shredder online database:
http://www.shredderchess.com/online...
49. Nd4 is the move which loses slowest, in 32 moves.
49 ... Kg6 is the only winning move, in 32 moves.
50. Kf2 is the only drawing move.
51. Nf3 is the only drawing move. (So this is one place where Shirov could have forced a draw.)
For example:
51. Nf3 Rh1 -- White must play 52. Kg3 to draw
51. Nf3 Kh5 -- White must play 52. Kg2 to draw
51. Nf3 Kh6 -- White must play 52. Kg2 or 52. Nd4 to draw
51. Nf3 Rh7 -- White must play 52. Kg3 or 52. Ne1 to draw
51. Nf3 Rh8 -- White must play 52. Kg3 or 52. Ne1 or 52. Ne5 to draw
For other moves (except of course 51... Rxf3+) White has at least four different options to draw.
51 ... Rc3 is the fastest winning move, in 29 moves. 51 ... Ra3 wins in 32 moves.
52. Nc2 is the slowest losing move (ie best).
52 ... Ra2 is the only winning move.
53. Kd3 is the slowest losing move.
53... Ra4 is the quickest winning move, but not the only winning move.
53. Ke3 is the slowest losing move.
54... Rc4 is the quickest winning move, but 54... Ra2 also wins.
55. Nd4 is the slowest losing move (28 moves), all other moves lose in 23 moves or less.
55... Rc5 wins in 28, 55... Rc3 wins in 29.
56. Kf2 loses in 28, 56. Ke2 loses in 27.
56... Rc5 is the fastest win in 27.
57. Nf3 is the slowest loss in 26.
57... Kh5 is the fastest win in 26.
58. Ne5 is the slowest loss in 25.
58... Rc3 is the fastest win in 25.
59. Kf2 is the equal slowest loss with Kd2 and Nd7 in 24.
59... Kh4 is the quickest win in 24.
60. Kg2 is the equal slowest loss with Nd7 in 24.
Kibitzing
