Crowl, who lost this game, “declared it (this game) to be ‘perhaps the best game of chess he had ever played,’ i.e., up till 1935.” Thus it is the first game in “How Purdy Won,” a collection of 53 of Purdy’s games on his way to winning the World Chess Correspondence Championship.

(The quote above is from the paperback of “How Purdy Won” p20).

Cecil J. S. Purdy vs Frank A. Crowl
Correspondence 1934-1935
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation [E32]
With a transposition to the Dutch Defense

1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e6
3.Nc3 Bb4
4.Qc2

While this (4. Qc2) is still played, preferred is 4. e3

4. … Bxc3+
5.Qxc3 Ne4
6.Qc2 f5

Here we have the transposition from a Nimzo-Indian Defense to a Dutch Defense. Note how easily Black parted with his Bishop. He does not think it will be a problem.7.e3

Purdy points out 7. g3 is the usual strategy against the Dutch, which is still true 80 years later.

7. … b6
8.Bd3 Bb7
9.Ne2 Qh4

Crowl later provided the idea that 9. … Qg5 might have been better setting up the following Kingside attack: 10. Nf4 Qh6 with … g5 to follow.Purdy noted, after 9. Qg5 10. O-O is dangerous as Black ends a pawn up after 10. … Nd2
11. e4 fxe4
12. Bxd2 Qxg2+!

10. O-O Nc6
11.g3

Purdy considered this an unforced error creating an unnecessary weakness around his King.

11. … Qf6  12.a3!

Oddly Purdy gave himself an exclamation point here because he avoided the following inferior plan which he had intended: 12. Bxe4 fxe4 13. Qxe4 Na5! 14. d5 O-O  (see diagram).

Analysis Diagram after 14. … O-O

This would be followed with

15. Nc3 Ba6

or

15. Rb1 exd5 16. cxd5 Qf7! 17. Nc3 Ba6

or

17. Nf4 g5 18. Nh3 bxd5 19. Qg4 h6 20. Nxg5 Qg7

with the initiative.

12. … Ng5
13.f3 O-O
14.Bd2 Rae8
15.Bc3 Qh6

Crowl thought he missed a chance at a win here with 15. … Nh3+

16.h4! Nf7
17.e4 g5
18.Kg2 g4

Purdy’s book notes Crowl spent 14 hours on this move and here avoids 18. … gxh4 19. Rh1

19.fxg4 Nce5!!
20.dxe5 fxe4
21.Bxe4 Qg6!

Purdy had been surprised by 19. … Nce5, but thought he had worked out a refutation even accounting for 21. … Qg6!

Purdy pointed out 22. Rf4 does not work on account of 22. … Ng5!
23. hxg5 Rxf4
24. Nxf4 Bxe4+
25. Kf2 Bxc2
26. Nxg6  where Black may very well be winning.

Instead play continued as follows

22.Rf5! Bxe4+
23.Qxe4 exf5
24.gxf5 Nd6
25.Qd5+ Qf7
26.exd6 Rxe2+
27.Kf3 Re6

Here Purdy notes Crowl from move 17 forward had planned on trading Queens now, but finds it loses due to White obtaining a passed pawn on the 7^th.

28.g4 h5

Black is still trying to win. Instead he should seek the draw with 28. … Rxd6  29. Qe5 Rd3+ and 30. … Rxc3

29.dxc7!! hxg4+!

29. dxc7 gets two !!’s as it wins while hxg4+ gets an exclamation point because it avoids the natural – but losing – 29. … Rc6 (which will come soon) followed by 30. Rg1 Kh7 31. Qxf7+ Rxf7 32. Be5 Rxc4 33. f6 d6 34. g5! Winning.

30.Kxg4 Rc6 31.Rg1 Kh7 32.Qxf7+ Rxf7

33.Re1 Rxc4+

Black is lost, but 33. Rxc7 loses rapidly with 34. Re8 threatening mate.

34.Kg5 Rc5
35.Re5 Rg7+
36.Kh5 Rc6
37.f6 Rxf6
38.Rg5 Rh6+
39.Kg4 Rxg5+
40.Kxg5 Rc6
41.Be5 d5
42.Kf5 b5
43.b4 a6
44.Kf4 Kg6
45.h5+ Kxh5
46.Ke3 and Black resigns. 1-0

And the outside pawn after all the fireworks has won another game.

END.