An End Game

I drew Game 5724510 and am looking for ways to improve and play for a win.

I liked 27... Rc2 (who doesn't like putting a rook on the 2nd rank?) but it forced the exchange of bishops and 29.. Rxg3 was definately too greedy. What could I have done to slow down his Q-side pawns and stop the backrank threats?

At first glance, what's wrong with 28... Bxb4? His queenside counterattack loses all its steam without the "candidate" b-pawn, and the bishop helps defend against the backrank threats.

Originally posted by danilop
At first glance, what's wrong with 28... Bxb4? His queenside counterattack loses all its steam without the "candidate" b-pawn, and the bishop helps defend against the backrank threats.

Hmm I shouldn't have overlooked that. At the time I had calculated that I could force the removal the bishops and so I did without any further analysis of the position because "my rooks were better than his".

I agree, 28...Bxb4 would be a win for you, you have a very nice passed pawn and he has the more open king and no counterplay, definetly would be an easy win for you.

What about the bishop sacrifice on h2? (27... Bxh2). with the idea of a pin
28. Kxh2 Rc2 (pin of the bishop).
29. Rd1 Rd4
30. b5 Rd4xd2 (check)
31. Rd1xd2 Rc2xd2 (check)
32. Kg1 (or anything else) Rb2
(you cannot take the pawn (32.axb5, because of 33. ab5 Ra8 1-0)
33. b5xa6 Rb6
And here, it sounds like you 'll soon have two pawns more, and an easy-going victory.
I didn't check all possibilities, though...

EDIT: OUPS, I made a mistake in the position!!
sorry! Forget all this...

you can still check if the sacrifice of the bishop on h2 cannot lead (after 28... Rc6) to threats of a classical mate with two rooks on g and h files. I think he at least has to give back the bishop, and you won a pawn.

Agree with previous posters about 28...Bxb4 - it was much better and would give decisive advantage, while 28...Bxg3? missed win.

Originally posted by Macpo
you can still check if the sacrifice of the bishop on h2 cannot lead (after 28... Rc6) to threats of a classical mate with two rooks on g and h files. I think he at least has to give back the bishop, and you won a pawn.

27... Bxh2
28. Kxh2 Rc6
29. Ra3 and black is lost