Hello, looking for input on this tournament game I played earlier.  It was a quick g/30 game (yes, G/30 is quick) but I found that it was of reasonable quality.  Comments please!

Don't focus too much on the final few moves however, I can easily tell where I went wrong using a chess engine, so there is no point in expending any effort on it.  I'm looking for more general, usable middlegame advice (as it is much harder to figure out my weaknesses using an engine).

Tourney score was 0.5/5.  Would have been 1/5 (easily won endgame), but I was so tired I made an OTB mouseslip.

A few comments/questions.

14. Rc1 - Do you have a plan here?  It looks like your opponent is bushing the a pawn to open that rank.  Do you want to aviod a rook exchange?  If yes, are you willing to handle his rook the open a file

18. Rcd1 - Another rook shift only to have it move again at 23,  I think that's two moves you could have used potentially developing the knight  and or the light squared bishop. 

26. Nd2 - Trading off pieces just to trade is never good.  Though I totally understand,  But I think the knight might have helped in a king side attack

27. Bxf5 - I don't like this  With the bishop queen you had the king down to one fleeeing square, A knight on f7 could have finished the deal.

Generally I'd say don't trade pieces without a plan and don't surrender a file to a rook unless you have to.  I think that a file cost you the game.

14. Rc1 DID have a point, it enabled d5.  Giving up the a file in that situation I strongly disagree was wrong, as Rc1 enabled me to attack (although I had no idea how to execute).

And I truly believe that with correct play the A file is worthless.  Remember that most of the point of an open file is giving your rook somewhere to go, and well, blacks rook didn't have anywhere to do.

Now that I'm not rushed, I think 14. Rc1 a4? 15. Bd4 c5 (else d6! Bxd6 c5 +-) Bc6 White has a clear advantage because the e or a files are going to be controlled by him (he can really take his pick).

18. Rcd1.  Point taken, Bb2 was slightly better here as it was the least developed piece.  The point of Rcd1 was supporting the d pawn, and potentially pushing it.

27. Bxf5 maybe wasn't the best move, but I don't know why you think it had any attacking potential.  I had no attacking potential in that position without me or my opponent doing something stupid

17 d6 wins a piece (17... Qxd6 18 c5).

I brought up the light squared bishop and the a file because that's really the combination that mated you.  Giving up the bishop wasn't bad per se, but then your knight just retreated two times.  I know we all hear about trading bad bishops but in your situation trading pieces didn't seem warranted yet.  Sometimes it's better to regroup and attack again on a single spot.

very easily.  no comment.  oh wait i just did comment