Leaping into and endgame before looking!

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MrZugzwang

This recent loss of mine might be instructive for intermediate level players who, like myself, have a tendency to leap into endgames before looking carefully at where they are going to land.

Bishop of the same color endgames can be very unforgiving and need to be carefully evaluated in advance.  I failed to do that around moves 32 - 36 and lost as a result, I believe.

It might also be of interest to Nimzo-Indian players, especially if you like the positional lines with b6 for Black.

The game also illustrates a problem I have that is probably shared by a lot of players at my level -- I can get a pretty good position and then fail to find the best plan (or even a good plan) and just fiddle around until my opponent equalizes or wins.  If I could improve in this area, I think I could be a decent chess player.

Since first posting this game I have gotten some insightful comments from the winner, Leeaumd, which I gratefully include in this version.  I have prefaced his comments with "Leeaumd" The other comments are mine.  Where both players comment on the same move, I have separated the comments by "/"  Hope this is not too confusing.

Your comments and suggestions for improvement would be welcome!

MrZugzwang

I don't mean to be dense, but what does Black do after White simply plays 40. Kf3 ?  Now Black can't defend his pawn with his bishop, he can't take the white pawn and if he plays 40 ... Kf5 the white pawn rolls with 41. h4.  What am I missing?

MrZugzwang

Here is the position in the above variation after White unpins his bishop.  I still can't find a draw for Black.  Trying to infiltrate the black bishop with moves like 41 ...Bb5, etc.  looks too slow to me in view of 42 h4+  Kxh4  43 Kxf4.  Is there really a draw for Black here?

MrZugzwang

Tony, I am sincerely grateful to any master who will bother to look at one of my games.  I'm still trying to learn, believe me.