initially lost pawns by being careless. When you move a piece for better placement make sure you don't leave other pieces or pawns undefended. Look out to trap a piece that has prematurely entered your camp...in the end game was down 2 pawns, but there was still a possibility of draw with my active rook on the 7th rank...it cut off and limited the king's mobility in helping move the extra passed pawn forward. The blunder occurred when I got off the 7th rank and allowed the king to be set free...