Well, I'm a beginner whom is trying to get serious in chess. I've been studying for the last week, and had (what I feel) is a good game last night - I lost though. The opponent said he'd been playing for 65 years, and until I played the losing blunder at 22 I thought I was ahead.

 

I'd wrote a move-by-move analysis however I lost it when I didn't save. So I'll rewrite it after school again.

 

Opinions, and any form of analysis (i.e., my weaknesses) welcomed.

 

~ Jordan. 

For someone who is a beginner, I would say you are playing very well. I saw that you developed your pieces very well. It appears you were ahead in development for a little bit. Of course the blunder on move 22. was the losing move. I just noticed that you didn't mind pawns being doubled. Usually doubled pawns are a disadvantage. There are an easy target as you can/could see in the end-game. If you will double pawns because you are making a capture... usually you capture towards the center. May be you should have done that in this game. When I lose a piece, especially if it is a minor piece, I avoid simplification (exchanging pieces and the like) because it favors the player with material advantage.

Lastly, I know you were going to lose, but I think you should have played a couple of moves to see how he was going to win. Thing is, if you exchange the pawns, you have Rook and King, vs. Rook, King, and Knight. I am not sure it is obvious that White will win. In addition, if you exchange Rooks and pawns, he has King and Knight, vs. your King. He cannot mate you with one Knight! Just a thought. 

next time i'll try harder

don't try! just apply!(what you learned)