hi everyone, i must apologise because i've been a bit embarrassed to post on this forum. i was at a conference type thing in Belgium two months ago and I thought I'd have time to check my emails, unfortunately I had no access to the internet for a week so many of the games that I had were lost, so i apologise if anyone reading this was playing me.

I've joined my local chess club and I've been starting to play there, unfortunately most of the players are much better than me. I did however win one of the games tonight, but the one I'm about to post, I lost. It was the only one I wrote down the moves of.This wasn't a tournament game or aynthing, it would have been embarrassing if it was.

I think I made a mistake very early on in the game, in fact I knew it was a mistake almost as soon as I made it. I'd like to know at what point I actually "lost" the game (as I know I did lose very early on) and how I could have forced the game into a draw.

Was there a way where I could have forced a draw once the position was lost?

not sure why he played 35. Rxa4...Bxc4 wins instantly...but even after that its still lost for you...even being the exchange up he has too many connected passed pawns and your king is completely out of the play....

Ya this is a little late, and I am no expert, but in my opinion the game was lost around move 15, when your down a pawn, which is not horrible in itself , but look at the pieces. His bishops score the center, his queen is ready the use, his is castles and you are not, you have that weak pawn, and your queen can't really do much for all the space. I'm not saying it was hopeless here, but a good game on his part clearly leAds to a win. Hope this was helpful.