An endgame lesson

Today I witnessed an interesting off-hand game between Dato' Tan Chin Nam and Bernard Ng this afternoon. The lesson to be learned - calculate everything!

Dato Tan - Bernard Ng

 White immediately captured the bishop and as he explains, the black king is outside the square of the pawn.

1. Rxf4 Rxf4 2. Rxf4 Kxf4 3. d6 h3 4. Kf2 ??

After 4. Kf2??

This looks easily won as the white king can stop the h-pawn. The other king move does not change anything 4. Kf1 Kf3 5. Kg1 (5. d7 h2 6. d8=Q h1=Q#) 5... g3 with the same winning idea

4... g3+ 5. Kg1 Kf3 6. d7 h2+ 7. Kh1 Kf2! 

On the contrary it is black who wins!
 
8. d8=Q g2+

White resigns since  9. Kxh2 g1=Q+ and mates next move

At the time we thought 4. d7 was drawing but looking at this position at home the win for white is clear

After 4. d7 h2 5. d8=Q h1=Q (Here we all thought it was a draw by perpetual but the black king is in an unfortunate position) 6. Qf6+! Kg3 7. Qe5+ Kg2 8. Qe4+ Kh2
9. Qxg4 with a winning queen ending.

Things are never as simple as they look!