Winning the Won Game (7), using doubled pawns

Next time you see a position that is supposed to be winning: capture the position, transfer it to your favorite chess program, set the program to a higher rating than your own and play the winning position to see how to conclude the game. Then go back and repeat the exercise at an increased rating until you can win against it at full strength.

The ending below is from a drawn game played against Sam, a 1512 rated ChessMaster10 opponent who hates draws. I had previously blown a lead and needed an opportunity (a mistake by my opponent) to salvage the game. Houdini, in my later review, showed me that missed opportunity. This is the replay against Houdini set to full strength.

The variations and move symbols are Houdini’s (1.5 w32), diagnosed with ‘Scid vs PC’ at 10 seconds per ply. The verbal comments are my thoughts during the game and my interpretations of the analysis provided by Houdini. The score chart is at the bottom of this entry.

For the readers who wish to try this exercise, the FEN is:
8/8/2p3b1/8/6P1/1k2K3/2p5/2B5 b - -

In Secrets of a Grandpatzer, Colby reminds us of what ‘the rest is a matter of technique’ means (taken from Mednis in Chess Life and Review):
   (1) Don’t allow counterplay.
   (2) Deep material advantage.
   (3) Establish a clear plan and stick to it.
   (4) Be careful – CAUTION!
   (5) Hurry not.
   (6) Avoid complications.
   (7) Simplify to a known theoretical win.
   (8) Keep working, the game will not play itself.