my dear friend,
in such a “cheek to cheek” sorrow ending of game as it appears to be,
should we play 46.Rb1+ I expect then ...Rb3 and I do not see a good way out of it.
Alternatively 46.Re1 could have more sense: their pawn e4 looks not defendable and after ...a2 47.Rxe4+ ...Kb3 48.Re1 I wonder whether a draw by repetition may occur
Waiting for comments
I was also contempating Re1, instead of Rb1+. It doesn't make sense to give a check first and then move Re1, since that would only help black to bring their rook with tempo to the queen-side where their a-pawn would be supported to get ahead.
The line I see is the same as yours, but my conclusion is different (unfortunately): 46.Re1 a2 47.Rxe4+? Kb3 48.Re1 Kb2, and black cannot be stopped from promoting...
Is there any better for us?
Yes, 46.Re1 a2 47.Kc2, aiming to stop the a-pawn with the king, and simultaneously to interfere with the black king's advancement along with his pawn. At least that gives us a chance...
Then, the game might continue 46.Re1 a2 47.Kc2 Rf3 48.Rxe4+ Ka3 49.Re1 Rxf2+ 50.Kc3 Rg2 (simple and effective; if 50...Rb2?! 51.Re7) -- and our pieces are tied down, while black is ready to capture our remaining pawns...
Thoughts?
if finally also Re1 doesn't offer better chances than Rb1+ and if the both of us are unable to find a move in which we can at least temporarily trust, wouldn't be more intellectually honest to resign ? (technically speaking, to close up that forum whith thanks to Engines' guardian and to devote our time to the other Alliance games)
To be honest, while we may indeed lose this endgame, rook endgames are particularly thorny and sometimes difficult but very common, so I actually look forward to seeing the computer engine's technique in realizing its advantage.
The line I offered
46.Re1 a2 47.Kc2 Rf3 48.Rxe4+ Ka3 49.Re1 Rxf2+ 50.Kc3 Rg2
seems like a reasonable continuation to me, and when we get there (if we do), we can re-evaluate the situation and whether there are remaining chances to play for. My guess is that after 51.Rf1 Rxg4, black's anticipated maneuver Rg4-Rb4-Rb1 and promoting won't be stoppable then, so that will put an end to the game.
Getting to around move 50 shouldn't take much intellectual power from us in particular, since it's more or less forced.
Therefore, we can still concentrate on the other vote chess game (Pt.3) -- Jorg claims that it won't be easy for us to beat the machine there, so we'll need to maintain clear focus indeed...
I therefore prefer to vote for 46.Re1, rather than vote for resignation at this point.
Would you mind, the_whitebeard, if we actually continue with that line as a blueprint?
valentin: I accept with pleasure your blueprinting kind proposal; let's try it and decide from time to time how long it makes a sense to continue
As to our move it's ok Re1 for now, being the less hopeless move we were jointly able to figure out
Btw, to be included among the administrators of the Group what should I do ?
Black played 45...Rxh3. It's our turn now. Here's the situation, including the latest move played: