Instructive Failures

In a ten minute game online yesterday, my opponent blundered away a winning position. Another blunder gave me the edge, but then I returned the favor. Later, I could have held the draw with a move that I rejected as losing. Instead, I played it safe and my opponent gave me another chance to win.

The errors strike me as instructive.

Black to move

Stripes,J (2000) -- Internet Opponent (2036) [B01]
Rated Rapid game LiChess, 19.12.2019

40...Re8??

Rooks belong behind passed pawns, but in this case, the rook becomes immobile.

40...Ra5!-+

41.Ra3= Ra8 42.Ra6

Black's rook cannot do much.

42...Kf8 43.Kg4 Ke7 44.f5 h5+ 45.Kg5 gxf5 46.Kxf5 Kd7 47.Kf6=

Black to move 

Black has more pawns, and they seem marginally better. On the other hand, White's rook is more mobile and his king is well placed. Black seems to have two clear ways to hold the draw: 1) hang on to the f-pawn, or 2) eliminate White's g-pawn.

47...Kc7??

1) 47...Ke8 48.Kg5 Ke7 49.Kxh5 f5 50.Kg5

Black to move

Analysis Diagram

Now, Black must eliminate the g-pawn. 50...Rg8+ 51.Kxf5 Rxg2 52.h5 Rf2+ 53.Kg6 Rg2+ 54.Kh7=

2) 47...Rg8

Eliminating the g-pawn immediately shows recognition that the game should be drawn. When a player had a clear advantage a few seconds earlier, the transition to understanding the game is drawn can be difficult.

48.Rxa7+ Kd6

White to move

Analysis Diagram

49.Kxf7 (49.Ra2 Rg4 50.Kf5 Ke7 51.Re2+ Kf8) 49...Rxg2 50.Ra5 Rg4 51.Rxh5 Re4=

Back to the game as played, and another instructive variation.

48.Kxf7+- Kb7

48...Kd7 is an interesting try.

White to move

Analysis Diagram

49.g4 is the only winning move. 49...hxg4 50.h5 g3 51.h6 g2 52.Rg6 Rh8 53.Kg7 Rc8 54.h7+-

49.Ra5 Kb6 50.Rxh5

Now, it is White who has more pawns. Moreover, White's advantage in number of pawns is decisive with a better king position.

50...a5 51.Rf5 a4

White to move

52.g4??

Throws away the win.

52.h5 a3 53.Rf1 Ra7+ 54.Kg6+-
52.Rf1 is also winning.

52...a3= 53.Rf1 Ra4 54.Rg1 a2 55.h5 Rxg4

White to move

56.Ra1

I looked at 56.Rxg4 and thought it was losing. However, White can hold against the queen. 56...a1Q= 57.h6 Qh8

White to move

Analysis Diagram

58.Rg7 White's pawn is protect by a fork. 58...Qxh6 59.Rg6+

56...Rh4 57.Kg6 Rh2 58.h6 Kb5 59.h7 

Black to move

Kb4??

Still playing for a win, Black loses.

59...Rg2+ 60.Kf6 Rh2=

60.Rxa2! Rxa2 61.h8Q+- 1-0

Black played on until I managed to win the rook.