I think this is not the turning point yet   34.Nf4 actually was the turning point but if 34. a4 was played with as result something like this. > 34....Nb2 35.Ke1 Nxa4 36.Ke2 Then whites chances to draw are increased drastically, and blacks knight is out of position while whites king is in position.

I think this is the turning point. All the action is over the Q-side. You still cant create a passed pawn over the K-side, whereas I will be able to on the q-side. Then provided I can get the Minor Pieces off it should be a won K+P ending....yes fair point easy19...those give white alot better chances

The ending at this point is quite remarkable. At first sight, White's chances look very poor, and yet... Lamed though it is, White's majority on the K-side still counts for something, but also, White has chances of counterattack against the Black b-pawn. Freddy's comment hinges on the fact that a knight capture on a3 attacks the White b-pawn - the knight capture on a4 does not. So White really needed to take time to advance the a-pawn. Quite a subtle point, and easily missed.

Why not 35...Naxb5? It appears that after 36.Nxb6, the lone a-pawn isn't so easy to drive home, for example: 35...Naxb5 36.Nxb6 Nc3 37.Nc4 Nxc4 (37...Nxe2 38.Nxd6+) 38.Bxc4+ Ke7 39.Ke1 Kd6 40.Kd2 Nd5 (say) 41.Bf1 a4 42.Kc2 Kc5 43.h4! gxh3 e.p. 44.Bxh3 and Black is thrown on the defensive on the K-side.

39.Bxd3 is not good the trouble starts there... If 39.Na4 you get exchange situation that results in a much more playble position for white.. aldo not won still better and on your terms.... play on the analyze board. and see the difference 39.Na4 Nxf2+ 40.Ke1 Nd3+ 41. Bxd3 exd3 42.Nxb6 Ke5 43. Ke2

Yep! That looks better....I think I can still infiltrate by Kf3, win the b-pawn and drop my knight back(eventually) to d6 to hold it all together

Joanne, you got hit by a very, very good move. 38...Nd3 is in my view double-exclam country. The capture on d3 looks so plausible, until you look into the sequel (40...Ne4+!). In the alternate line given by easy19, I suspect White might do better to leave the b-pawn alone:39.Na4 Nxf2+ 40.Ke1 Nd3 41.Bxd3 exd3 42.Kd2 Nc4+ 43.Kxd3 Kd5 44.Ke2 and Black still has a lot of work to do to bring home the win.

Ok! I am a pawn down, but I have the opposition. You can't leave the a-pawn and get back over to protect your K-side.

Due to the earlier g3? Black can penetrate on the white sq and white's 4-2 pawn majority is crippled.

Yes...whatever you did was doomed when the knights come off. The pawn structure doesn't lend itself to creating a Passed pawn...So you cant even play h4...because after gxh(ep) your three pawns vs my one haven't time to do anything before I queen.

Black played a very high quality endgame, and it would have taken at least an equally high-quality defence to have saved the draw. It is one of those endings that will teach you a lot, and - perhaps surprisingly - it is interesting to play through, as well.

Yes, there isn't much white can do at all now is there because you cannot leave that a pawn for eternity!