Annotated chess game

The piece trade was to set-up a series of maneuvers that would beautifully illustrate good endgame technique. 31. d5 Re5 (to capture the pawns) 32. d6 Rxc5 33. Kd4 Kxd6 34. Rf6+ Ke7 35. Kxc5 Kxf6 36. Kd6 c5 37. Kd5 Ke7 38. Kxc5 Ke6 39. Kb6 Kd6 and it is a simple endgame win for White because he blocks out the Black King just enough to force a path to Queen his pawn. **** My point is that the trade is part of a forced win for White.

It's probably too late to effect much against White's stranglehold, but I think I would have tried to avoid the pice exchange. The pure rook ending just looks horrible for Black.

Increasing simplification favors White. I would avoid exchanges as long as possible.

Especially when White plays the pawn break .d5 and gains a passed pawn, with a won (almost) endgame.

32...Re5 might have been interesting...

A fine example of endgame technique in action.

White got an early advantage and consistently converted it to greater advantage. Black did make it easier than it had to be. Better to have offered the b pawn in return for counterplay than the more defensive approach taken, I think.