Try this (Basic debugging checklist, Tip #3): 
print ">>>$1<<<"; #print "a1"

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You will see that there is a space after a1: 
>>>a1 <<<

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'a1 ' is not the same as 'a1' as a hash key.

You should also use warnings because it tells you which line is fishy.

See also: chess

In reply to Re: Weird hash access problem by toolic
in thread Weird hash access problem by tehjord

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