I have 2 questions about an endgame I just played against NoirDesir in the current 2+2 CC Championships.
Game:
http://www.chess.com/echess/game.html?id=48723444
PGN:
[White "hamstergang"]
[Black "Noir_Desir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.d3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Qxf6 8.Ne2 d6 9.O-O g5 10.d4 Ne7 11.Rb1 h5 12.f3 h4 13.Qd2 Ng6 14.Bb5+ Kf8 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Bd7 b6 17.Qd5 Rb8 18.Bxc8 Rxc8 19.Qb7 Kg7 20.Rfd1 h3 21.Ng3 Nh4 22.Qxc8 Rxc8 23.Nh5+ Kg6 24.Nxf6 Kxf6 25.gxh3 Nxf3+ 26.Kf2 Nh4 27.Rd3 Ng6 28.Rg1 Nf4 29.Rf3 Rd8 30.Ke1 Rd6 31.Rg4 Rc6 32.h4 gxh4 33.Rxh4 Rc4 34.Rhxf4+ exf4 35.Rxf4+ Ke5 36.Rxf7 Rxc3 37.Kd2 Rh3 38.Rxc7 Rxh2+ 39.Kc3 Kxe4 40.Rxa7 Kd5 41.Rc7 Kd6 42.Rc8 Rh5 43.Kb4 Rg5 44.c4 Rh5 45.a3 1/2-1/2
Endgame position A:
After 25...Kxf6. White to move, up the exchange, but with not so great queenside pawns, and with an issue on the kingside. I see options as 26. gxh3, 26. g3, or 26. g4, with 26...Nxf3+ being the response to all of those. I went with the first, thinking I could open things up on the queenside and come in with my rooks to win, but that didn't work out. The other 2 options lock up the kingside a bit, which may not be bad, but then what to do to win?
Endgame position B:
After 40...Kd5, we reached the above, white to move again. Is it just a dead draw? Is there any plan for white that you would try that could give you a chance?