How to draw rook endgames

As in chess tournaments and matches...
BB+
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Joined: Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:26 am

Re: How to draw rook endgames

Post by BB+ » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:35 pm

In the game, HIARCS played 52. Kxf3, and it then becomes too difficult to bring the King over to the queenside and not lose one of the kingside pawns (due to the forking power of the Queen). Even after this, it's still not completely obvious to me, as Black's h-pawn won't be passed, and White can aim for the same set-up as before. But HIARCS moved Nb3 rather than Nc2, and then let the a-pawn thru via snatching the c-pawn, and now I do think it is over. [I'm not completely convinced I saw a -5 position that could be drawn (regarding the resignation rules), but there might be some here -- IvanHoe was around -4 at worst, but those with higher relative scores might slip the trigger].

To reduce it to a simpler statement (though I admit the kingside pawns give Black more chances), can Black win this?