Avoiding mistakes in endgame

I feel like I've gotten past the point in Rapid where the entire game relies on who blunders the most, and essentially, being one pawn up in the beginning can make all the difference. But I also feel like I don't really know the best way to optimize the endgame.

Here's a game I played just now. You can see how move 34 made all the difference - how do I prevent these kinds of mistakes from happening?

Improving your endgame in chess requires a holistic approach. First, it's essential to grasp the fundamental principles of endgames, like the importance of king activity and the power of passed pawns. Understanding these concepts helps in practically all endgame scenarios.

Studying classic endgame positions is also invaluable. These positions, such as the Lucena and Philidor positions in rook endgames, are the cornerstones of endgame theory. By learning these, you'll be better equipped to handle similar situations in your games.

Focusing on pawn endgames is especially crucial since they form the foundation of endgame understanding. Knowing when and how to create a passed pawn, and how to use your king effectively in these situations, can often be the difference between winning and drawing (or losing).

Another effective strategy is to learn from the masters. Players like Capablanca and Karpov are renowned for their endgame skills. Analyzing their games can provide deep insights into advanced endgame strategies.

Practical application is just as important as theoretical knowledge. Solving endgame puzzles enhances your calculation skills and pattern recognition. Playing out endgames, either starting from known positions or from your own games, is a great way to apply what you've learned.

Technology can be a helpful ally in this. Endgame tablebases and chess software offer precise analysis and allow for targeted practice in complex positions.

It's also beneficial to incorporate endgame study into your regular chess routine. This consistent practice is key to mastering endgames. Additionally, reviewing the endgames from your own games, particularly those you lose, can be incredibly instructive. Understanding your mistakes helps you avoid them in the future.

Lastly, if possible, discussing endgame strategy with a coach or a more experienced player can provide personalized insights and accelerate your learning process.

Remember, endgame mastery is a journey that takes time. With dedicated study and practice, you'll find yourself becoming increasingly proficient in this critical phase of the game.

I have a feeling this was written by AI, which is always superfluous content that states readily available information. I don't want to criticize this reply, but what I am looking for is constructive ideas and analysis, and what this is is stuff you can search on Google in a few minutes. If I wanted an answer from ChatGPT I would ask it to ChatGPT, not the forums.

I'd still love an answer - something that's not a dumb AI response, please.

You have to think.
The rook ending was a draw.
30...Rf4 and 31...Rc4 lost a tempo instead of 30...Rc2: the rook behind the passed pawn
32...h5 lost time instead of 32...Kf5: bring the king to the center
34...g5 lost time instead of 34...Ke6: bring the king to the center
You got the right ideas 31...Rc4, 33...Kf5, 35...Ke6, but 3 times a move too late.
You cannot afford to spill 3 tempi.
The more the passed pawns advance, the more dangerous they become.
When the opponent has 2 passed pawns a and c, that should be your priority: rook behind the pawn and bring the king to help: the rook stops one and the king the other.

So looking at the game white has a better chance at winning from that endgame even before the blunder. They could still hang a draw but essentially the more pawns come off in a king and rook v king and rook endgame the more it benefits the defender. However we are looking at stopping the pawns before they reach the 7th. You were correct to be behind the pawns with the rook. If connected you want to be behind them before the leed pawn passes the 6th. Try the endgame tutorials on the site for rook vs rook and pawns they are great.

@6

"white has a better chance at winning from that endgame even before the blunder"
++ The rook endgame is a draw.
However, black gave white chances.

24...Rxc2 trades pawn c7 for pawn c2, that benefits white. Better bring the king to the center 24...Ke6.

26...Rxc3 trades pawn c6 for pawn c3, giving white a passed pawn c4. Better 26...Rxa3 to create a passed pawn a6 too and prevent a pair of passed pawns a and c as in the game.

29...Rxf2 trades pawn a6 for pawn f2 and gives white two passed pawns c4 and a4. The rook leaves control over passed pawn c4. The rook on c2 is active behind the passed pawn c4.
'A passed pawn is a criminal to be kept under lock and key' - Nimzovich
Better 29...Kf5 to bring the king to help.