endgame advice

Originally posted by Regicidal
Black still could have won with 43...b4 as played. Then,
44.Kd3 a6 (black wants to trade the drawish rook pawn but first needs a tempo to gain the opposition) 45.Ke3 a5 46.Kd3 a4 47.Ke3 axb3 (If 47.bxa4? c4 then the rook pawn will be captured by black's king) 48.axb3 c4 49.bxc4 Kxc4 50.Kd2 Kb3 wins.
Or
43...b4 44.Kd3 a6 45.Kc2 Ke4 46.Kd2 Kd4 47.Kc2 Ke3 ...[text shortened]... e he can sac the a pawn and advance the c pawn to queen with mate) 52. Kb1 a4 53.bxa4 c4 wins.

precisely explained, and much appreciated. i can see that my 44...a5? was crucially too eager. i'm maybe wrong, but in your second line, 51.Kb2 seems to be illegal, and i can't find how to regain the opposition.

Originally posted by pootstick
precisely explained, and much appreciated. i can see that my 44...a5? was crucially too eager. i'm maybe wrong, but in your second line, 51.Kb2 seems to be illegal, and i can't find how to regain the opposition.

Right, I got it jumbled. It should be
50.Kb1 Kd2 51.Kb2 a5 52.Kb1 a4 etc.

(And if white doesn't take the a pawn and plays 53.Kb2 then ...axb3 54.axb3 Kd3 55.Ka2 Kc3 wins.)

Originally posted by Regicidal
Right, I got it jumbled. It should be
50.Kb1 Kd2 51.Kb2 a5 52.Kb1 a4 etc.

(And if white doesn't take the a pawn and plays 53.Kb2 then ...axb3 54.axb3 Kd3 55.Ka2 Kc3 wins.)

ok, securing the opposition before pushing a5 towards the trade. thanks again Regicidal and also Hammster (you did indeed have the righ tidea of trading rook pawn.)