I think 42... Ra3 is the correct move, because after h6 the f3 pawn is hanging, and I don't want to own the h-pawn, if I can take a better one, and then you can attack the b4 with Rb3.
So, 42... Ra3 if the King defends the pawn I give a check on a2, Rf1 is passive, so I can change. After that I don't see any moves for white to win.
Another good idea is 47... c5. 48. bxc5 Rxe4 49. fxe4 Kxc5 and black wins
48. Rxf4 Rxb4 49. Rf7 and your position is better, maybe winner.
Dale, first of all thanks for uploading your game! An analyze is the best way to improve. That's the main activity I do with my individual students.
According to the game, there is one principle that is, in my opinion, very useful for every member of our group. I mean the Rook in Rook engames needs to be placed behind the pawn we want to be promoted. Your Rook was misplaced and ineffective as well. An activeness is crucial in all endgames!
If I had been you I'd played 51...Ra7! instead of 51...b4?!
Why?
2 reasons: the Rook needs to be placed behind the pawn we want to be promoted - that's why my idea is to transfer it onto b7; from a7 square the Black's Rook is protecting h7 pawn.
I've made that analyze at first sight. I am not sure if my idea is enough to draw or win but I am absolutely convinced that it is better than your move 51...b4.
Anyway whole game is interesting and I encourage all of you to comment, ask questions etc.
Thanks for the comments.
47... Ra3 - here I can`t remember now, what I wanted to achieve, but it was clearly not the strongest move at that time
you have mentioned that you don`t want to own h-pawn, is it general concept that in most situations side pawns are harder to promote?
@Mateusz:
Thanks for the idea with rook behind. Now I rembember that maybe I have heard this when I was smaller, but forgot already (just quick background: I played chess between 12-16 quite offen and in one chess club in Prague, but than I stopped and played just time to time with friends - now in mid-30s I am trying to find again beauty of this game :-) )- in this game it would clearly usefull
51...b4 seemed to me very good idea as my pawn was 1 step nearer to promotion, now I see this was weak move - I should have find more for that other pawn as it would hold that other side of board longer.
Yes, generally side pawns are harder to promote, but the main what is more important? Your chessman, or the opponent's one. If you take the f3 and white h7, you have a free pawn, what has to move 3 to become a queen, and white's H has to move 5.
I am not posting game I have intented earlier, but again another game, where I have failed in the endgame and I would be courious, what can have been done better. It is some kind of Sicilian, but my suggestion is to look from Move 34, when we exchanged queens.
At that time it seemed to me that I stay worse due to strange pawn structure and less active figures. Somehow through I believe good exchanges I went to better position around move 47 and I hoped to get one of b-c pawns promoted. I did but opponent sacrificed his rook and I was not than able to stop his 3 pawns against one and rook on the other side of board.