what was the right move?...

Hey all,

this was my game in the final round of the PA state tournament. i played as white and

i know i made some mistakes and especially made one big blunder at the end but after some analysis i was just wondering if i figured out the right move(not that it matters now... haha)

 

 

now my question is what move should i have made at move 44? i think it should be 44. Rh8.. because that would allow me to trade my rook for his pawn but would have allowed me to get my pawn promoted. please comment.

thanks for any and all help... 

 

 

(deleted due to poor reading comprehenshun)

jjjmmmccc177- you probably ment move 45, because Rh8 at move 44 is ileagel...

stormcrow - 44.Rg8 is ileagel, 44.Rg7+ Kxg7, 45.Rg8+ Kf5 46.Rxg3 h1=Q+

 

I think:

45. Rh8 h1=Q+ 46.Rxh1 Nxh1 47. b7 and he can't stop you from queening and winning the game...

 

 

 I think you were already lost.

Well, Rh8 should have played.  You have to play defense when it's time to play defense.  Rh8 would have saved the game because the black rook cannot cover 2 files.  It can only cover 1 rank and 1 file at a time, and since your pawns were so far advanced, it would be difficult for black to win both pawns.  In situations like that, be aware of any tactics (i.e. forks, pins, etc.) that can ruin your chances of queening.  So, your original assessment, although you didn't play it, was correct.  Black could not save the pawn, so it was to your advantage to play it.  If Rh8, then ...h1Q+, Rxh1 and if ...Nxh1, then b7! wins.  Then if Rxa7, b8=Q wins.  Or if Rb4+, then Kc2 Rxb6, a8=Q wins.  Going back, if Rh8 Rb4+, Kc2 Black cannot stop one of those pawns from queening, and if the rook checks constantly, the white king just marches up the board, alternating between the b and c files, to stop it.