Keeping it Local

I just returned to Waco from Victoria, after a wonderful two day visit with my daughter, Lisa. I was lucky enough to play some chess at the Victoria Chess Club's regular Monday night meeting. (Lisa and I played a couple games near Lighthouse Beach at Port Lavaca on Sunday evening - Lisa played one of her best games and beat me!).

I only played one game - a long game with Victoria Chess Club member Robert Stryk.
The result was a draw - I could not convert a King and Pawn vs King ending into a queened pawn and winning advantage. After the game, Robert Stryk kindly showed me how I could have won the game.

The game consumed more than two hours and several chocolate ice cream cones.
Robert and I enjoyed this game. I present it to you for your consideration.

JOHN DEVRIES vs ROBERT STRYK
Casual Chess Game - Victoria Chess Club
May 17, 2010

WHITE (DeVries) BLACK (Stryk)

-1- e4 g6
-2- d4 Bg7
-3- f4 d6
-4- h3 QNd7
-5- Nf3 c5
-6- c3 Nf6
-7- Bd3 0-0
-8- 0-0 e6
-9- Be3 a5
-10- QNd2 b6
-11- Qc2 Ba6
-12- B x B R x B
Black's Rook seems to be in an awkward position.
-13- QRd1 b5
-14- P x P P x P
-15- Nb3 Qc7
-16- Rd2 a4
-17- Nc1 Rc8
-18- R on f1 to d1 Qc6
-19- Rd6 Qc7
Black decides not to trade his Queen for two Rooks.
-20- R x R Q x R
-21- Ne2 Nb6
-22- Ng3 Nc4
-23- Qe2 Qc6
-24- Bc1 Qc7
-25- Kh1 Rd8
-26- R x R Q x R
-27- b3 P x P
-28- P x P Nb6
-29- Be3 N on f6 to d7
-30- e5 c4
-31- P x P N x P
-32- Bd4 Bh6
-33- Qe4 Qc8
-34- Ne2 Bf8
-35- g4 Nc5
-36- B x N B x B
-37- N on f3 to d4 b4
-38- P x P B x P
-39- f5 Nd2
-40- Qf4 Qb7 check
-41- Kh2 Qd5
-42- P x P at f5 check P x P
-43- Qf6 Nc4
-44- N x P Q x P at e5 check
-45- Q x Q N x Q
-46- Kg2 Kf7
-47- N on e6 to d4 Be5
-48- Nf3 N x N
-49- K x N Ke6
-50- Ke4! h6
-51- h4 Kf6
-52- Nf4 Bf2
-53- Nd5 check Ke6
-54- h5 g5
-55- Nc7check Kf6
-56- Nd5 check Ke6
-57- Nc7 check Kd6
-58- Nd5 Bg3
-59- Ne3 Ke6
-60- Nf5 Be5
-61- N x RP Ba1
I have a one pawn advantage - I should win this game! But my victory depends on endgame knowledge.
-62- Nf5 Bf6
-63- Nd5 check B x N
-64- K x B Kf6
-65- Ke4 Ke6
(At this point, per Robert Stryk, I could have won game as follows)
-66- Kd4 Kf6
-67- Kd5 ! Kf7
-68- Ke5 Kg7
-69- Kf5 Kh6
-70- Kf6 Kh7
-71- K x P Kg7
-72- Kf5 Kh7
Per Robert, Kf5 is decisive move. Instead, I turn a victory into a draw because I do not know how to play the endgame right.

-66- h6 Kf6
-67- h7 Kg7
-68- h8 = queen K x Q
-69- K x P Kg7
I think I should win the game because I have K + P vs K. I am wrong.
-70- Kh5 Kh7
-71- g5 Kg7
-72- g6 Kg8
-73- Kh6 Kh8
-74- Kg5 Kg7
-75- Kf5 Kg8
-76- Kf6 Kf8
-77- Ke6 Kg7
-78- Kf5 Kg8
-79- Kg5 Kg7
-80- Kh5 Kg8
-81- Kh6 Kh8
-82- Kg5 Kg7
-83- Kf5 Kg8
-84- Kf6 Kf8
All roads seem to lead to stalemate, so I take the draw.