Here is a game where I think I get an okay game against a much higher rated play (2000 to my 1350~) only to find myself at the recieving end of a gallant sacrifice and then fumbling about in defense and losing terribly.

 

Any thoughts? 

Well, move 20 Qe3: your comment is that you should have played Nd2. You cannot because your queen is under attack by the Ba6. I would suggest instead 20 Qc2, with the idea to bring the queen to g6 for defense of the kingside.

12 h3 is not the best. You lose most of your advantage after this move.

The rook sacrifice was very strong. But I think a better reaction is 15 cxd5. For example 15 cxd5 Nxd4 16 Qc3 Nb5 =  Black can repeat with ...Nd4, but if he doesn't he has a worse position after retreating the rook.

wow i hadn t even thought of that! thank you!

 

i realize h3 was timid but i wasnt sure how else to go about playing 

I would suggest exchanging knights. Having control of e4 may be important. 

If I were to continue for you... my next move would have been Rd1... If the pawn takes your bishop, you can check the king at Rxd7 without worrying about the enemy queen.  If it doesn't take your bishop... then your bishop can kill the pawn easier... unless he does something else that's really threatening.

This of course implies that you potentially sacrifice your rook.

That... or move your other rook to Rd8 and see what he does next.

The key is to be able to take that d7 pawn with your rook somehow... it'll force the king to move somewhere that makes him quite vulnerable...

ie. (after using one of the suggested methods: Rd8 or Rd1 and onwards...)

Rxd7

The king is checkmated if he moves to e8 or f8 by the queen at d8.

If he moves to e6, you can continue to attack with your queen at c6 and gain some grounds for a possible checkmate or good material.  (Since the king is out in the open at this point... a lot of things can happen)

If he moves to f6, you can check the king with your rook at f7 and then take his rook afterwards or push for checkmate.

If he moves to g6, you go Rxg7 and he'll be forced to go to f6... and then either push with your queen or check with your rook at f7 to take his rook.

 The problem might be if he goes to g8.  You can then go Rxg7 and hope that he goes h8 for an easy checkmate... but if he goes f8 then there'd be a problem.

  

Well I didn't understand why you resigned. I thought you could make still a game. So I am not myself a good anylezer, so I downloaded the PGN, and run it throw my Fritz. It made my point. Bf4 and if he takes your Re8, Qe5+ and after Kf8  (no Kd8)   Re1 ,you were even favored according Fritz. I don't say that I would win against him, but little pit soon resign I guess.

I mean after 26. Bf4 Kxe8 27. Qe5+ Kf8 (27. - Kf7 28.Qd5+ and rook goes for nothing.) 28. Re1 threaten mate e8. King can't move rook goes again for nothing. Queen can't come to e6 because Qb8+ and Queen goes. His only change to come even is 28. - Rxg3 29. Bxg3.