The thing about playing at the amateur level is to remember that blunders are going to happen on both sides of the board.  Of course, it's alway painful when you do it - especially so when you're  the first one to make it.  But still, more often than not, your opponent will reciprocate in some manner.  So the lesson is hang in and wait for an opportunity to strike.  It won't happen all the time obviously, but it happens often enough to give me a W where I was ready to resign and take the L.

An absolutely amazing position results toward the end...and yes, that was a very nice mate! But 19... b6 wouldn't have saved Black either, due to 20 Bd4 (he has to give up his queen with 20... Qxd4, due to the Bxb6# threat looming). I think Black would've been forced to give his king room with 19... Nc6 to play on.

There was btw a longer-winded but quite amusing win after 19... b6 as well: 20 Ne8+ Kb7 21 Ncd6+ Ka7 22 Nxc8+ Kb7 23 Ncd6+ (there was a recent post with this same idea; there though it only led to perpetual, whereas here it wins) Ka7 24 Bd4 Qh2 (again he would have to give up his queen to avoid the mate) 25 Nc8+ Kb7 26 Ned6+ Kc7 27 Bxb6#.

I think that 19 Ne8+ Kb6 also probably would've won, with either 20 Nc4+ or 20 Bd8+. One amusing line is 20 Nc4+ Kc5 21 Bd4+ Qxd4 22 Rxd4 Kxd4 23 Nb6 Ra7 24 Nxc8 Ra8 25 Nc7.

The moral of all of this is...both of you guys have to learn to get your pieces out more! All sorts of weird debacles like the above can result whenever there is a huge lack of development.

That is a pretty mate!

That mate is gorgeous! I've had this happen a lot to me too! (check any one of my games and you will see tons of blunders) I've held out a whole queen down and still managed to reap the benefits of my opponents mistakes.

Ahhh, he confused the rook for the bishop I guess, young new player I suppose, you pulled out a very nice mate.

Remember: The end is the blunder!