Here is an interesting and lively game I played Sunday OTB in a preparation match. I suggest you pace through it slowly, because there are many unusual positions and some surprising turns.

I have added lots of notes, but the smoke hasn't cleared yet after this first analysis work - evaluations, comments and corrections are very much welcomed.

What are the lessons from this game for me ?

1) Tactics still very much win, draw and lose the game...

2) I have to try to be more objective in very unbalanced positions like the one that arose in this game : as I'm unable to calculate everything, in unclear siutations I should revert to good positional principles that still hold : king safety and piece activity - it's not because I have tricked my opponent once that I have an automatically won game

3) It's a good idea to disturb a higher-rated opponent as early as possible and set him some problems - in this game, I think my fighting helped me get the draw offer at the end, even if I wasn't able to fully get it on the board

Nice post, good game. I should use those lessons too..

Nice game. Interesting morph into the Queen's Gambit accepted. Very woolly situations - not exactly my style. :P Kudos for getting the draw.

How about 21... d5?

Hello Tony - yes, it looks like an excellent suggestion, helping black to smoothly finish his development - here are the lines I've come up with :

21...d5!? 22.cxd5 exd5

A) 23.Qxa5? Be4! 24.g3 Bf3 -+ (24.f3 Rxf3)

B) 23.Rc5 Be4 (again) 24.f3 Qe3+ 25.Kh1 Qxd4 with advantage

C) 23.Qa7 Be4!

D) 23.Rcd1 (looks best - protects d4, keeps an eye on Nb8 and frees the f1 rook from the 1st rank) Nd7 (renewing the threat) 24.Qa7 Rf7!? and the attack keeps rolling as Be4 is still in the air

All in all, an excellent idea, which I didn't correctly assessed during the game - thank yo uvery much for your input !

I'm sorry : I don't understand your question.