Help my Endgame!
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I think the pawn push 30.c3 was premature. You wanted to keep his bishop out of the game a bit longer while you centralized your King. Just a guess really. Interested to hear how others would approach this one.
Jul 8, 2008
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#3
Perhaps 46...Be2, 47. Bxe2 Rxa7. I would like to comment more on this later, but at first glance, I would probably try this, and hope that my opponent doesn't see it.
Jul 8, 2008
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#4
I also think that 30...c3 was premature. Yes it's generally good to push passers, but I'm not sure that in that situation you aren't just creating a target, i.e. what does that pawn advancement actually get you? You always have to look at the situation. The #1 rule of most endgames is get your king involved, and I don't think you did it early enough, I would have liked to see ...Kf7 on move 30. Part of the problem that c3 creates though is that you allow him to use his Bishop to defend his pawn on a6, which makes your job that much harder. Maybe you had chances after that, probably a draw. I also don't like 35...Kf6. Why not Ke6? I'm not sure you can hold your d-pawn at that point, but you'd make him work for it more and get closer to what I think your goal should have been, namely shuttling your king to the b-file and hopefully picking up the pawn or threatening promotion. Later on, I think you needed to trade with his e-pawn on move 40 or 41 to have some drawing chances, though things do look a bit bleak after that.
As a final note, never make a move just because you're hoping for your opponent to miss something and fall into a trap - play the objective best move and assume that your opponent is smart. Now, if there are a few moves that are equal, pick the one that gives them the best chance to make a mistake, and if you're totally lost sometimes you set traps because you need them to blunder to have a chance to get back in it anyway. I was going to say that I thought c4 actually was the best move on move 34, but now that I look at it, after 34...d4 I don't see how white can be better, and black might even have a decent advantage.
Hope this is helpful,
WanderingWinder
I think that had you played 32... c1=Q+, then after 33. Rxc1 Rxa6 you have traded off white's dangerous outside passed pawn for your hard-to-defend doubled pawn, leaving you still a pawn up, without doubled pawns, and ready to push your other passed c-pawn.
Yes, thank you,very helpful comments, I think the lesson here to be learnt is patience! And I definitely agree with redblack, that line definitely seems to prevent any counterplay.
Jul 9, 2008
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#7
Umm, I don't think 32 ...c1=Qch 33Rxc1 Rxa6 34 BxR is such a great idea. Evaluating the position after 28a4 I can believe there is some technical problems for black to win, but will take some effort to lose. Think 28...d4 29 e4 c4 looks good for black. Otherwise Bd5, and don't see problems for black. Maybe 29Rc1 Bxp 32 Rxc5 pxp 33. Re5 at least no danger black losing this. If instead 28 ...Re8 was wondering about 29 a5 Rxp 30 Ba6 but maybe black is winning still after 30...Re7
I'm not an endgame expert but I think black should win this.
My idea at move 30 would be: 30.....,Ra6(idea: limiting the scope of white's rook down the a-file,blocking the passed a-pawn on a dark square so the lightsquared bishop cannot be used to defend it,avoid getting black's rook stuck on a8) 31.Ke1(what else?),Kf7 (idea: bring the king to the center,aim for c5-d4 pawn push, maybe at some point implement g5 to keep white's pawn on g4 restricting white's bishop though I doubt that'll be necessary)
This game swayed to and fro a bit with a couple of mistakes on each side but I managed to reach the endgame with a pawn advantage. However, at that point my opponent waged an almighty comeback and eventually won. This unsettled me a bit because although admittedly endgame isn't my strongest suit, I thought I had the basics to at least procure a draw. I am posting the game soon after I played it so that (hopefully) the reasons behind my moves are fresh in my mind. Thanks in advance for your comments!
Of course I play black.