Sometimes I hate this game

I think I need to work at my end game, was there a way to draw this?

White had a win on move 32. Rxa2, bxa2, Rxb8+, Kg7, Ra8 and you win the pawn back up a rook

Thanks BC22... that's annoying I missed that tactic. Very annoying.

Dan, Look at your move 22.

Hey don't beat yourself up man, its just why its important to go over the games like you are. Just try to find things you lacking in, maybe tactics, or endgames specifically and look for resources to learn. Also it really helps if you can play somone who is willing to go over your games. If you ever want to play a game let me know. I only do 15|10 or higher, or daily (trying to work on my long game focus) so if thats a time you like id be happy to play and go over games. I am also not that strong either however, but its always good to have two eyes on a game to understand it well

Yes Darren, a terrible terrible move. Black has Qxd1+ I have to play Rxd1 and then Rxc6 so black is up a whole rook and will win.

I had to go over the end game with the computer in the end to try and see if there WAS a way to save the game. It suggested by maneuvering my king around the black king and pawn rather than playing 43 Kh5 like a moth to a light bulb I could have salvaged a draw. Damn it.

Sure mate, happy to play...

Dan, Well spotted. What I was really driving at is what move 22. should you have played.

(1) in rook end games passed pawns are a good thing and it does not matter if they are isolated.
(2) in rook end games rooks go behind pawns,
(if you white attacking on the first rank, if white defending on the seventh rank. [28. Rd5?] )

The check by the White rook is very critical. Had the Black king been on g7, this resource would not have been available.

#9 Oh Gosh yes. Black has to go with 6. ... Nbd7, ... c5 or ... h6  
Dan's games are great, they are always full of interesting features.

Keep going Dan mate, drill those rook and pawn endgames. They are not easy, I just recently lost one myself from a drawn position after I had declined a draw. Embarrassing!

43. kg5 would have secured a guaranteed draw

You mean 43. Kf5.

Well during the game I really couldn't see a better move than the one I played, if you take my queen I will take yours etc, clearly missed the tactic and so did my opponent. Sadly I now know what the computer best move is that saves the queen and still defends the pawn so I can't answer honestly mate.

28. Rd5 was to try and get the rook back down the board to help with preventing that annoying pawn from queening....which I just about managed to do

Thanks Deirdre, it's a well known trap I don't know... never would have seen it and pretty sure I won't remember it!

Nice to hear from you...

Thanks mate, you know me I will keep trying....

Just realised I didn't post my thoughts and comments within the game, might not be worthwhile now anyway... oops!

Dan, 22. Qd5 as that guarantees either a passed b-pawn (b5) or a passed d-pawn or two passed pawns.
It is not saving the queen but forcing a favourable passed pawn rook end-game.
It is "rule" (1) on rook endgames. The transition from the late middle game to the early end game is what piece/pawn structure suits me. In the game your opponent got the passed pawn with rooks and he killed you.
The other move is rule (2) go to the 7th - Imagine you have two rooks on the 7th - even if it costs you two pawns you have perpetual check and a draw.
The game is another Dan special, you were doing so well with the pin, switched it to winning q-side material and then in true Dan style dropped the ball because you did not know the basic rook endgame rule of a passed pawn even if isolated is good for you.
A player who knows the rook end game will always draw f, g, h pawns v e, f, g, h pawns.
Or the other way always win when they have 4 v 3
So read "rule" 1, and stare at the board (22) then the penny will drop. Engines are great for the best move or the variations but never the why.
To be honest I did not even see Rd1 lost a rook .., I only saw the winning endgame was missed by the move!

#19. D -
"He is already a very good player , he plays like 2000 in some points but like 1200 in others. "
Tell me about it. Chatted with Dan in the past about that, this time I thought I would try positional over tactical.  You could write a book about Dan's near misses. Pretty sure I suggested "The Art of the Middle Game" Keres/Kotov 

There have been moments when I get so disgusted after my losses that I start throwing things away!

Thanks Darren... I am still dipping in and out of three different books at present but find it difficult to finish them.... much prefer playing online, trying to analyse the games myself and listen to the excellent feedback at this forum along with watching various youtube videos of good players highlighting weak player's mistakes.  I realised a long time ago I don't have the ability or the focus to improve that much but I do enjoy the game of chess and trying to learn something from each loss if I can. This particular game frustrated me so much because I didn't think I would lose. Now I see I had a good chance to win, I should have lost and I should have drawn.

DS - I thank you for your comments and will try to reply to you regarding the 2 main mistakes you mentioned:

1) 18. Nxd7 - my main plan was to remove the knight on d7. This was my goal so that I could win the bishop on g7 ridding black of a good piece and creating some holes around my opponent's king. Therefore I went all out to play this move as it removed the defender of f6. I had no intention of changing plans and this is why I missed the tactic you suggested. I was too involved in sticking with my goal. I was pleased when it paid off but then realised during the game I had no plan after this!

2) 22. Rfd1 - as mentioned in another post - I really couldn't see a better move than the one I played, if you take my queen I will take yours etc, clearly missed the tactic and so did my opponent. I still don't know if I would find the best move now, maybe... I would certainly take more time than I did in the game. I think I had 16 minutes left at this point.

Once we were down to rooks I remember feeling that I should do everything in my power to prevent black from queening and lost sight of my ambition which should be to queen one of my own pawns eg. 29. Rd2 giving up my isolated pawn for no reason - too focused on a defensive objective and forgetting to keep pawns alive.

I very very rarely post up wins (sometimes these happen!) but you are right I almost have enough lost games analysed for a book haha - "the ones that got away" probably the most entertaining/infuriating/horrifying

Thanks all for your comments as usual