Help to improve Endgame

In game 1, 21.Rfc1 looks like it wins immediately because if you can play d7 and then put a rook on c8 your pawn will queen because his rook will be pinned to his backrack against his king -- this is a common way to promote a pawn.

Oops, my 23.Rc7 is a waste, the things I said black is now threatening of course were threatened before the rook even moved to c7 which means white is winning so much he can actually just waste a move like this heh.  Just play 23.d7 instead of 23.Rc7.

A move before the first diagram, the position after 20.fxg5 in the actual game, it seems like black has done well to reach this endgame, but has to be a bit careful -- it seems like black should be winning but I'm not completely sure on the specific moves.

You played some good moves in both games -- better than I would have expected for that rating :) -- In the first endgame instead of advancing your kingside pawns, when low on time in an endgame that's way too committal.  The nature of those pawns (doubled) means you can never force a passer, and most likely will end up with weaknesses such as after move 32.  Instead the first thing on your mind should be activating your king.  After move 32 white looks lost -- instead of winning your e pawn for example black just had to play b5 and continue advancing.

In the opening of the first game, well you were lost.  The point of gambiting the pawn is for center control (you should play d4) and activity (d3 blocking in your bishop was terrible).  The 2nd game you just completely steamrolled your opponent :).  The only moves I gave a 2nd look were, I might have preserved my bishop with 8...Bf5 instead of letting him take it and for white I would have thrown in d3 at some point.

Hi!... I'm glad you took up the wing gambit! I remember how once in the national School chess championships here, our coach prepared it as a weapon against some formidable opponents! the element of surprise being a big motivation, but also because it is an oft noted truth that many tactical players (especially sicillian players) who thrive off the rhythm of attack find it bothersome when the roles are reversed and they are forced, albeit for a while to follow white's pace, and defending!  our opponents  in utter disbelief (it was only played on two boards really) failed to find good lines over the board and since then i have been a fan of the wing gambit... errrm not that i would be compelled to use it when the stakes are really important lol...

umm just going over your first game,  move

5. f4... deviates from the main lines... so far and in my database i have seen three moves played the most here Nc3 Nf3 and d4  i am not sure its best here, but i wouldnt call it bad persay.. i suppose you were hoping for a break on the kingside? anyways  you should look at Nf3 and d4 the next time you play  this line...

d3 really wasnt good, but that has been said... instead Nc3 protecting the pawn was a natural developing move which protects the pawn, after Nc3 i very much think you have atleast equalized here...  the whole problem is though that you can't very easily push e4 now, with all three center pawns deployed, they are more weakness than asset.

ignoring that though, at move 12... instead of d4, the immediate e5  ...dxe5 13. fxe5 Nd5 14. Nc4!   you are clearly clearly  winning! I will have to run, but if you looked at the position there, I'm sure you can make out numerous tactical possibilities at the d6 square!

Oops, I didn't answer your questions.

1. The endgame after 20.fxg5 I think is winning for black as shown with moves in my 3rd diagram.  For a word explanation why black is winning:

1)  Black has two connected passed pawns
2)  Black has a superior minor piece, a centralized knight vs a bishop blocked by his own pawns.  In fact white can consider sacing a pawn with d7 (as in my diagram 3) to help activate his bishop.
3)  White's pawns are farther adavnced which mean weaknesses in an endgame such as the e5 pawn.
4)  Following #3, black's pawns are less advanced and he has no outstanding weaknesses.  f7 can't really be pressured because white has to focus on black's queenside passers.

2.  I don't see a chance for white to play Qg1.  maybe you mean what if his last move were 22.Qf1?  I think white is still winning.

Orangehonda makes some good analysis however, there are a few inaccuracies:

from diagram #1:

21. Rfc1 Rxg2+ Kh1 Rxg5...

now white has d7!  which should win quickly:

Rd8? Be7 (or Rc8) Rxd7 Bxg5



diagram #2

Rfc8 d7 Rd8 Rfc1 Rc7...

here orange honda suggest Bd6. However i think stronger is:

Rxc7 Nxc7 Rc1 Rxd7 [N-any Rc8] Bd3!!  ... now if Knight moves, black has a mating attack (see honda's first diagram), if rook moves white gains a peice.

 

refering to honda's most recent post:

after Qxc3 white has a nice little resource:

Bxc6! Qc6+ Ka1 bxc6  which is bad for white (though no worse than the current postion), however black might fail to spot the tactics:


If Qxc3 (or bxc6 without Qc6+) Bxg2+ Kxg2? Qb5+ Kf8 Qxd8+ Kg2 Qd1 [white might also be able to draw by repetition here] 

I made a few changes with edit after my original post, can't remember if I originally had this line, but it's there now so I'm not sure what you mean   In any case my point is that black can't afford to waste time with this capture, and if he does that black should lose quickly as you (and I) showed.

You're right, in my 3rd diagram, the variation beginning 20...Rfc8 the move 22...Rc7 loses instantly to 23.Rxc7, I didn't see that :)  I guess I went to a lot of trouble with that variation for nothing.  I do think black is winning in the main line, with 20...Nb6 though.  If that move doesn't work... well I think we should keep looking for black for the reasons I gave in post #4 of this thread.

I'm a bit confused with Bxc6 and the reply Qc6+ , do you mean Bxf6 and Qd3+ (?)

I'm pretty sure I know what you mean though :) I think there is no perpetual because black can take the bishop without losing his rook actually.

yep Qd3+  

and it would seem that I was wrong, I clearly missed Qb6+