Was there a winning plan?

This position was reached in one of my games. I could not find a good way to continue and played Rh2 and offered a draw. The draw offer was accepted.

Do you see a way to win this?

to me it seems that most pieces are grounded to place, and swaps and other waiting moves will not improve the position by queening the pawn or gathering matereal.

thinking about it for a second more.... maby if you manage to swap the b and g rooks. and then move your king to d2 and activating your queen to help the rook and bishop looks like a good plan. problem is that these moves were static. meanwhile the opponent can free his knight and attack the pawn... or the bishop. anything...

sorry i couldn't have been of much help, in summary: you might have had a win, (like a 50 moves around the board and reppetition to gain thinking time with no clue what you are doing untilll the opponent breaks), but it won't be worth the headache.

Do I see a way to force a win? No. Do I see a way to play for a win? Yes...

Nd1, Re1, Re3 (trading off the rook in your camp)

Nb2 (trading off the knight in your camp)

Once that's accomplished, White has more space and a much more cohesive pawn structure. He can use that to threaten b6, d5, f5 in turn as well as Rg7 and h6-h7. It's unlikely that Black will be able to deal with all of those threats.

I usually win these sorts of positions because opponents go into "shuffle around" mode while turn by turn I remove my weaknesses and gain slight advantages.

yes likesforest is right- after those threates are removed black has almost no way of penetrating the wall.

Thanks for your comments, but please consider the tactics present in the position.

@ uritbon: if white tries to trade the b-rook for blacks g-rook by playing Rbg1 then black replies Qb5 threatening mate.

@ likesforests: if Nd1 then c3 is insufficiently defended. So white can not play Nd1.

@ everyone who wants to give advice: Please give some concrete variations.

GatoNegro wrote:

Thanks for your comments, but please consider the tactics present in the position.

@ uritbon: if white tries to trade the b-rook for blacks g-rook by playing Rbg1 then black replies Qb5 threatening mate.

@ likesforests: if Nd1 then c3 is insufficiently defended. So white can not play Nd1.

@ everyone who wants to give advice: Please give some concrete variations.

Surely Nd1 defends c3?

Where does the weakness arise?

yeah, Nd1 defends against the extra attacker, and then he suggests swapping off the rook before taking out the irritating knight which is stopping you taking over the b file.  Once the rook is exchanged, then the knight is free to continue its journey. 

Oh of course Evil Homer, sorry I was not paying attention.

GatoNegro wrote:

Oh of course Evil Homer, sorry I was not paying attention.

No worries :-)

But if Nd1, Re1 followed by Re3 then black does not need to trade the rook he can play Rg4. And then it looks like whites plan does not work.

GatoNegro> @ likesforests: if Nd1 then c3 is insufficiently defended. So white can not play Nd1

Maybe you are seeing ghosts? The knight and queen defend c3 so it is adequately defended... ss a double-check I ran the position through Rybka3 (elo:3250)... she agrees Nd1 is tactically sound.

GatoNegro> @ everyone who wants to give advice: Please give some concrete variations.

I've provide 4 concrete moves and a follow-up plan. The rest is up to you.

I have my own positions to analyze, too. :)

Excuse me guys by being a bit critical about your comments but I want to find the truth about this position. Offering draw felt like resigning, since I am a pawn up and have more space. It just seems like blacks pieces are at the right squares to prevent white from exploiting any advantage.

doesnt that trap the rook, allowing Rf3, Ne3.  If not, white can still swap off the knight and gain control of the b file I think, but perhaps this isnt that important. 

GatoNegro> But if Nd1, Re1 followed by Re3 then black does not need to trade the rook he can play Rg4. And then it looks like whites plan does not work.

Good, now you're getting specific. If ...Rg4, we can do Qf2 followed by Rg3.

[Oh!... Steven's Rf3 + Ne3 sounds better. :)]

ahem, she?  elo 3250 suggests otherwise! 

sstteevveenn> ahem, she? 

Maybe I am spending too much time with Rybka. ;)

GatoNegro wrote:

But if Nd1, Re1 followed by Re3 then black does not need to trade the rook he can play Rg4. And then it looks like whites plan does not work.

AND... after Nd1 it not possible to play Rb1-e1 because the first rank is blocked by the knight on d1!

please!!!!!

id play Qe1 to win the rook

At least it's ambiguous!  I'm pretty sure chessmaster, or "the king" as he likes to known, is a bloke.  His picture removes all doubt. 

Don't try to solve this by using an engine like Rybka of Fritz of any other. Engines don't understand closed positions.