This was my first tournament. I don't think I played my best. Might've been nerves, or the fact that it was a live game. Anyways, any help would be appreciated very much. Thanks!

 

More to come later. I gotta get some sleep.

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7...Nbd7 by Black was superior to the game continuation. Thanks to White's eccentric 2,Ne2, Black is already ahead in development, and 7...Nbd7 8.Qxf6 Nxf6 would increase that lead. And if White wastes another tempo with either 9.h3 or 9.f3, your lead starts to get quite serious.

dont get him to teach you openings

you have a space advantage so should not exchange material ie. Q

You shouldn't have lost this one! I think you missed a good chance with 8...dxe4. White has nothing better than 9.Ng1 and you're doing very well. The same chance was there with 9...dxe4 also on moves 10, 11, 12, and 13.

23...Rfc8 was very good for you.  If you can get the c-file (and you can), there's a ripe target on c2. 24...Rfc8 was good too.

Obviously 30...Qe7 was just a complete oversight. 30...Qf8 leaves White with an advantage, but it's far from over. I don't understand the variation you gave starting with 30...Ng3. Aren't you just losing a piece for nothing?

You had your chances in the game, but you didn't take them. Still, you were in the game until you blundered. You have to work on keeping your concentration and watching for your opponent's threats on every move. I think your concentration began to fail later in the game as you became tired. The only cure for that is more experience, so don't get discouraged!

Thanks for the help! yeh I see how 8...dxe4 would be very strong. 30...Ng3, I didn't see Qf8, and thought it was the only way not to lose the rook.

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Yeh i thought the guy was a little nuts. He kept muttering to himself during out game...

Game 3. I actually win this won! But I think I got real lucky...

I have to agree: you got quite lucky in that ending. But this is typical of what can happen in tense positions, when the clock is ticking. The simplest calculations suddenly become difficult, as nervous tension begins to take its toll. Obviously, you are totally dead after 44...b5.

But the opening and early middle game are the most interesting parts, at least to me. Do you usually play 2.Nc3 in this position? It's a perfectly reasonable move, but I'm sure you've noticed that in the Queen pawn openings, White usually plays 2.c4 or 2.Nf3 and then 3.c4. As it went, you ended up in a position that is usually reached through a king pawn opening. I'm not sure 7.e5 is best, but when Black cooperated with 7..dxe5, you got a very nice position. But 9.Bxe6! was your move. After your 9.Nxg6, Black had the excellent 9...Bxc4. 

In any case, you had a winning position after 11.Kxh7, but here you started to go astray.  I think your simplest plan here would be to castle Q-side and advance your f-pawn to finish destroying Black's castled position. Or perhaps just play f4->f5 and reserve the choice of which side to castle on. To break down Black's position, I think you will need pawns as well as pieces.

On that same theme, I like the looks of 14.h4! I also would have preferred 15.O-O-O. By exchanging pawns, you activate his Knight  and he's right back in the game. Even though your advantage has slipped, after 15.O-O-O, you still have a nice advantage.

Let this lucky win renew your energy and fighting spirit. Now go win one on merit! 

Nc3 was in response to NF6, but obviously it got me into trouble after Bg7...

9.Nxg6 Bxc4 10.Nxf8, trading a rook and a pawn for bishop and Knight. Is Black's bishop really that strong on C4?

I agree. I should have castled much sooner, and pushing the f-pawn would have been a good idea.

Thanks for your input!

Just an advice.. Doubled pawns isnt always weak for the opposition.

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Yes, I realize that

The trade of a B + N for a Rook and pawn is one that is very often misjudged. According to the point system we learn as beginners, it looks even (3 + 3 versus 5 + 1), but this is usually not true. Usually, a couple of active minor pieces are much more valuable than a Rook and a pawn, at least in the opening and early middlegame. It takes time to bring that Rook into play. Also, you are exchanging two developed pieces for a Rook that is currently doing very little.  After 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Nxg6, You are a clean pawn ahead and Black's king position is very damaged.

Ok yeh that makes sense