White can get a queen vs rook by sacrificing at b2. Now, black doesn’t have to accept the offer, but it won’t help:
1. Rb2 Rb2? 2. c7
And the pawn is unstoppable. This is, in fact, what Hammer played. After Hammer checked from b3 and played Rb4, the game reduced to a Q vs R+P endgame:
2. …..Rb3 3. Kc2
Here, Kc4 is met by Rb1 threatening a skewer if white queens the pawn, and black will likely win since he can sacrifice for the pawn, pick up e4 and win with the e-pawn. Continuing:
3. …..Rb4 4. c8(Q)Re4
And Inarkiev went on to win 28 moves later.
I checked the Nalimov tablebase to be certain, and the position after Re4 is a win in 38 moves.
Now, as I wrote, black isn’t forced to take at b2 on move 1:
1. Rb2 Rh8 2. Kc4 Ke7 3. Kc5 Rh1 (Rh4 4.Rb8 Re4 5.c7+-) 4. Kb6 and we have seen enough of these R+P vs R endgames to know this is clearly won for white, even with the two extra pawns on the board.
Rb2 would be played by cute and sexy players
1.Rxb2 Rxb2
2.c7 Rb3
3.Kc2 Rb4
4.c8=Q Rxe4
***Black resign
1.Rb2 Rb2
2.c7 Rb3
3.Kc2
OR
2….Rh8
3.c7 Rc8
4.Rc2
At first I thought:
1. c7 Rh8
2. Rb8 but Black can play Rc8, so…..
1. Rxb2 Rxb2
2. c7 Rb3
3. Kc2 Re3
4. c8=Q Rxe4 and it is one of these dreadful Q vs. R endings.
or
1. Rxb2 Rh3
2. Kc4 Ke7
3. Kb5 Kd8
4. Kb6 Kc8
5. Rb5 should win.
Rxb2
White can get a queen vs rook by sacrificing at b2. Now, black doesn’t have to accept the offer, but it won’t help:
1. Rb2 Rb2?
2. c7
And the pawn is unstoppable. This is, in fact, what Hammer played. After Hammer checked from b3 and played Rb4, the game reduced to a Q vs R+P endgame:
2. …..Rb3
3. Kc2
Here, Kc4 is met by Rb1 threatening a skewer if white queens the pawn, and black will likely win since he can sacrifice for the pawn, pick up e4 and win with the e-pawn. Continuing:
3. …..Rb4
4. c8(Q)Re4
And Inarkiev went on to win 28 moves later.
I checked the Nalimov tablebase to be certain, and the position after Re4 is a win in 38 moves.
Now, as I wrote, black isn’t forced to take at b2 on move 1:
1. Rb2 Rh8
2. Kc4 Ke7
3. Kc5 Rh1 (Rh4 4.Rb8 Re4 5.c7+-)
4. Kb6 and we have seen enough of these R+P vs R endgames to know this is clearly won for white, even with the two extra pawns on the board.