Endgame problem

This is a position that arose in a blitz game i played today.
I started losing this game from move 10 but in the diagrammed endgame position i felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps i had a chance? But then i blundered again and deservedly lost.


[Event "FICS rated blitz game"]
[Site "FICS, San Jose, California USA"]
[Date "2007.10.20"]
[Time "22:36:56"]
[Round "-"]
[White "DavidJF"]
[Black "Marssan"]
[WhiteElo "1110"]
[BlackElo "1221"]
[TimeControl "240+15"]
[Mode "ICS"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 e6
8. f4 Be7 9. Qf3 b5 10. Nc6 Qc7 11. Nxe7 Kxe7 12. O-O Bb7 13. Rad1 Rhd8
14. Qg3 Rg8 15. e5 dxe5 16. fxe5 Nxe5 17. Bf4 Nfd7 18. Bxh7 Rh8 19. Qxg7
Qc5+ 20. Kh1 Qc6 21. Rxd7+ Nxd7 22. Bg5+ Kd6 23. Qd4+ Kc7 24. Be4 Qc5 25. Bf4+
Kc8 26. Bxb7+ Kxb7 27. Qxd7+ Kb6 28. Qd6+ Qc6 29. Qxc6+ Kxc6 30. Be5 Rh5
31. Bg3 f5 32. Re1 Re8 33. Ne2 e5 34. Nc3 e4 35. Bf4 Rh4 36. g3 Rg4 37. Ne2
Rd8 38. c3



38...Rg6?? 39. Nd4+ Rxd4 40. cxd4 Kd5 41. Be5 Rg8 42. Rf1 Rg4 43. Rxf5
Kc4 44. Rf4 Rxf4 45. gxf4 e3 46. Kg2 Kd3 47. f5 e2 48. Bg3 Kxd4 49. f6 Kd5
50. f7 Ke6
{Black resigns} 1-0



The question is, was there a glimmer of hope for me here? Does black have winning/drawing chances. And how should i have played this position?

Originally posted by Marsan
This is a position that arose in a blitz game i played today.
I started losing this game from move 10 but in the diagrammed endgame position i felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps i had a chance? But then i blundered again and deservedly lost.


[Event "FICS rated blitz game"]
[Site "FICS, San Jose, California USA"]
[Date "2007.10.20"]
[Time "22:36:56"]
ave winning/drawing chances. And how should i have played this position?

Just glancing at it Rd5 seems to tie whites game down and defend pretty well(at least for the bad position that you are in) then you can bring the other rook to that file. your ability to dominate the d-file and you more centered king seems to compensate for the missing pawn but not the atrocious position.

Looking at it more deeply you could try to penetrate your opponents position with you king and then play Rd3. because if you can get in behind the pawns with your king you can pick them off one by one. Also Kc5 with the above intentions prevents Nd4+. then you could play Rd5 when white plays Nd4

Just by glancing at it - White is considerably better. Black has to defend against Nd4+ and the subsequent Nxf5. Probably best is Rd5. Also, White has a strong "h"-pawn that would not be easy to stop. Black controls the only open file ( "d" ) so he should aim at keeping that minimal compensation and parrying White's plans. Active maneuvers seem inadequate.

Originally posted by ilywrin
Just by glancing at it - White is considerably better. Black has to defend against Nd4+ and the subsequent Nxf5. Probably best is Rd5. Also, White has a strong "h"-pawn that would not be easy to stop. Black controls the only open file ( "d" ) so he should aim at keeping that minimal compensation and parrying White's plans. Active maneuvers seem inadequate.

I thought that ...Kc5 followed by ...Rd5 would be good after looking deeper but you are rated way higher than me.

Originally posted by tomtom232
I thought that ...Kc5 followed by ...Rd5 would be good after looking deeper but you are rated way higher than me.

You are probably right.
White will play Nd4, Rf1, Be3 attacking the "f5" pawn twice. Since Rg7(g8) followed by Rf7(f8) would fail to protect it due to the pawn push g4, Black has to trouble White forces with his king. But I am not sure if that would not lead him in to more trouble that he can handle. Also Black needs to take into account another thread after Kc5 - the possible Ne6+ and Ng5 threatening h3 to win the rook. All in all, White should win.