Hey guys,

I'd like you all to take a look at this game I recently played and suggest ways I can improve. For instance if my opening is flawed let me know what I need to work on.

Please Please leave constructive comments, also if anyone is familiar with this variation please let me know the plans for white! 

Thanks

I think 8.a3? is too slow. I'd play 0-0,Re1 and go for an attack on e6 since he has a long way to castle yet. The game could last even shorter.

yeah good point! I'm thinking 8.Qb3 is also pretty strong

I think 8. Q-R4check leads to a white crush in all lines

I have to agree about 8.a3. It's slow, and it also just doesn't seem relevant. You have an excellent position already on move 8! With a huge development advantage. 8.Qb3 and 8.O-O both seem to capitalize on your advantage. 8.a3 guards against Bb4, I guess, but why is that a threat? And yes, 8.Qa4+ is very good too. 

12.Re1 was a critical decision, and I don't think it was correct. Either you want to trade queens, or you don't 12.Re1 leaves the decision up to Black, and since your Rook ends up on d1, 12.Rf1-e1 was kind of a waste of a move. Of course, you're still winning. It's really amazing what a big advantage you were able to get in this opening. 6...Nb8 and 7...e6  worked out very badly for Black

Your frustration on move 13 seems misplaced; you have a fine position, although I like 13.Rxd1 better. You are two pawns up, even if they're not the best pawns in the world, and you're still better developed. I kind of like 17.Nb5, I'm not sure what 17.Bd4 does for you. 18.Nb5 looks good too

Black's resignation seems terrible premature. Do you think he was under the impression that his Knight was hopelessly pinned?  After either  28...Ra8 or 28...b5, Black can fight on for quite a while

yea It's interesting why black resigned. I mean I can see a few continuetions that would give 2 pawn advantage. He could have brought his king into play and not lose at all. 

As far as the opening goes, it's my very first time playing this variation QGD. Not sure if it's inaccurate by black to play 7....e6 but it seemed to really delay his development.

My issue with this game is I had a huge development advantage, I just couldn't find a way to get any significant advantage out of it. 

Hello if you are intersted here is a group with the goal of improving at chess!

http://www.chess.com/groups/view/chess-learning

thanks! I'll look into it :D

Comment on the annotations : !? indicates an audacious/sharp move, taking some risks compared to 'normal' play. It does not indicate the move is bad (on the opposite of the way you seem to use it) ; ?! says 'this move should be bad, even if I can't prove it is'. ? means 'bad move'.

I would play 5.e3 instead of d5, but it doesn't seem so bad.

6.exf3 is correct ; the bishop eyes c4. (6...Nb8 is not '!?', it's '?' : almost every other square is better).

As other people mentioned, 8.a3 is pointless. Instead, 8.Qe2 ! (the strongest) wins at least the e pawn after the mistake ...e6 ?

10...O-O is not !? either but ? losing a pawn in terrible conditions.

21.Bxb6 seems to go in a rook endgame with a strong advantage to win ; however, it might be objectively a draw (I suspect it isn't, and anyway Black has a hard time defending).

I can't see why Black resigned precisely when he started to have some counterplay (after White's inaccurate move 28.b4 ?!) by 28...Ra8 (attacking the a pawn) and if White is not careful Black could draw this. Simpler ways such as 28.Kg2 bringing the king before acting wouldn't have given Black a single hope.

Some good analysis already made here, but on that specific point, Black's 7...e6 looks a very poor move indeed.

would 7...c6 be a better contineution? 

It looks better than e6, but doesn't really contribute much; Black needs to develop some pieces.