hi all,

here's a game I played today where I was attacking yet blew it at the end.what should I have done differently in this one? please note I was in time trouble in about half this game....so it's bound to have many blunders

Looking the opening i think the corect move is 4.e4 wins the game automatically !

hmm...perhaps.I thought about playing that immediate e4 but wanted to fortify the d pawn first.

I think 4.Nf3 is fine, but I'm not so sure about 18.Nxg5. You have an excellent position after something like 18.Bg3 followed by Red1 and Rac1, so you don't need to seek a tactical solution unless you're  sure it works. Certainly 18.Nxg5 isn't a mistake, but I'm not sure it's best. But after 20...Nfd5? I think 21.Rad1 just wins for you immediately. If 21...Qc5 22.Qg4! If 21...Qc4 22,Qh5, and if 21...Nf4 22.Qg4.

You're still ahead after 21.Qh5, but it's not an immediate win. I think you also missed a killing shot with 22.Re3! Your threat is Bh6 followed by Rg3+ and I don't see how Black can meet it.

yeah...I saw that 21.Rad1 so was debating whether to play that or Qh5.I think one of the reasons was the 21...Nf4 move...I overestimated that threat I think.

oh man...you're right...22.Re3!.I missed that move....dang it.can't see a way for black to meet that either.thanks.

4.e4 is always better than Nf3 f.e.

it seems 4.Nf3 is the prefered move nowadays...it prevents e5

I think 27. Nf6+ was where you lost the advantage.  27. Qg4+, 28.Qh5+, and 29. Ra3 looks like mate soon.

hehe yeah...saw that a3 rook left after the game.shoulda saw that during the game.of course the bishop eyes that a3 square so have to get rid of that first.yeah I was too hasty to trade down since was an exchange ahead...bad idea.it's tricky playing queen+rook vs 2rooks +knight in this position.shoulda contiunued with attack.thanks.

 You can run into problems after an immediate d4, after Nf6 and an eventual e5 there are a few traps. Nf3 followed by e4, as played, is actually more solid.

I reckon 33 Re1 or 33 Rd1 would have brought the bacon home fairly quickly. I think if you'd asked your opponent to resign then (joking of course, unless you're playing a friend), it would have been fair enough! 33 Qg6 was a bit passive and a few more blunders and things had gotten from good to bad! Anyway have a few drinks and celebrate the new year!

yeah 33 Re1 looks strong....dunno why I didn't consider it...or even Qxb7....musta been really antsy cause of time trouble and was about to beat my best win