Now, this isn't a very interesting game for most people. So if you are expecting fireworks, go look elsewhere. However, for me it was quite a thrill. I managed to stand my ground against a far stronger opponent for almost 40 moves. Apart from an early blunder (opening the file in front of my castled king) and the obvious overlooked mate (in a pretty lost position) I can't find one particular move that lost the game for me. I was slowly outplayed. It makes it all the more interesting to try and find out how I could have avoided it.

Was the simplification a bad idea? Just delaying the inevitable, or was it a sound choice? Did my backward pawn at a2 cramp my endgame? All ideas are welcome.

Help this patzer out! :)

My take on that one was that somewhere in there (I'm not sure where) he let his advantage slip away.  You played very well to hold on and improve your situation, undoubling your pawns.  But a move like 32 Ra1 you never want to play; it is hopelessly passive, and allows him to improve his position at his leisure.  I don't actually think your position is all that bad after 31... Rd2; after 32 h4 gh (32... g4 33 h5) 33 Rxh4 Rxa2 34 Rf4 you seem to be getting enough play to draw.

I think you played a good game, abeit a little passive. As Tonydal pointed, it's often a good idea to activate your rook in rook endings trying to take some opponent's pawns, even if it means losing some of yours.

Activity is key in rook endings, and you can often draw one pawn down.

With this in mind, maybe 29.Re7 is worth a look.

"Chess basics: do not simplify the position against a stronger opponent." I don't think that's true. What's the idea behind that? I think with the queens and more pieces on, you had very little chance of surviving that long with your king exposed like that.

i agree when the king is exposed as it was in this case, taking the pieces off the board are that are the biggest threat to the king is probably a good idea since the king was hemmed in a little...especially the queen and bishop when they were removed they were both a major problem aslong as the rook had the open file..and the knights looked dangerous while they were on king side as well...simplification may well have been the best thing you could have done here... however i'm not all that strong a player myself...but i think you did right there...however i think if you'd activated your knight a little earlier after all the other exchanges the position may have been much better for you as the end game looks lost once he gets his rook down to your side of the board