Was I right to take the draw?

Originally posted by streetfighter
The idea was to force white to either take on a5 at some point (in which case the e-pawn will queen with check) or for white to have to play b4 when his king is on the b-file (again black would queen with check). In both cases white would have a pawn on the 7th.

However, it may not be possible to force this. I'm going to keep looking - there are often very sneaky ideas hidden in this type of endings : )

The only line after a5 that I can find that forces white to take on b4 or a5 is
1. ...Kxe6
2. Kc6 Kf5
3. Kc5 e5
4. b4 axb
5. Kxb4
but in this position white is able to force black to waste time moving the king to protect the pawn whilst moving his own king to a square from which he will not be checked when black promotes eg
5. ... e4
6. a5 e3
7. Kc3 Kf4
8. Kc2 Kf3
and white promotes in the same move as black without being checked.

Any line where black moves the king anywhere other than the f file after 2. Kc6 results in white playing 3. Kc5, 4. b4 and promoting before black.

If there is a winning line for black I think it must be in maneuvering kings into favourable positions before giving up the exchange and I can't see a way in which this is possible either.

I cant see a way to force a win but if ...a5followed by e.g. kd8 by white then losing the exchange but trying to queen the e pawn might work

Not forced but worth trying before agreeing the draw?

Originally posted by Habeascorp
I cant see a way to force a win but if ...a5followed by e.g. kd8 by white then losing the exchange but trying to queen the e pawn might work

Not forced but worth trying before agreeing the draw?

If ...a5 Kd8 then black does win after Rxe6, but any king move that keeps white in range of c6 draws and if black isn't careful he could end up losing if he tries to push too hard for the win. It might be worth playing on in the position the draw was agreed in but if white keeps his king inside the b5-d7 square I'm fairly sure there isn't a forced win.