Thought process errors?

I was going over a game in guess the move in my Nezhmetdinov database.

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8r+-wqkvl-tr(
7+pzpl+pzp-'
6p+nzp-+nzp&
5+-+-zp-+-%
4-+-zPP+-+$
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1tRNvL-mK-+R!
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Black wasted a move with h6.  However, white needs to develop more before opening things.  I have the pawn center with tension against d4, which is also well supported.  Looks equal, not quite time to take active operations quite yet, I haven't castled any my queenside needs to get active.  Pawn center is dynamic and pawn structure overall is unresolved.  I can close things with d5, obtain a fixed center with dxe5, or wait for a pawn center that black will try undermining after exd4,cxd4.  I'd rather keep the center dynamic for now, wait to see what imbalances show up.   

Be3 and Nbd2 look like good candidates, don’t want my king stuck in the center though.  1.Nbd2,Nf4 black gains some nice activity with the fork.  

1.Be3,Nf4 2.Bxf4,exf4 opens things somewhat, I have the center and he spend many knight moves.  Still, I'm lagging in development.  

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+kvl-tr(
7+pzpl+pzp-'
6p+nzp-wqnzp&
5+-+-zp-+-%
4-+QzPP+-+$
3+LzP-+N+-#
2PzP-+-zPPzP"
1tRNvL-mK-+R!
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Black’s queen is in an awkward spot.  Still tough to tell where he’s castling, I can win a pawn with d5 but do I want to?  1.d5,Na7 2.Qxc7,Rc8 3.Qb6 my queen doesn’t coordinate well here while there’s lots black can do, namely improve his poorly placed Na7.  Black developed so he has compensation for the pawn.  In other words, look for something else.  Hold on, 3.Qxb7! hard to see how black can get out of that mess, even then 2…Nb5 might be stronger, but even here white seems better.  Need another move for black: 1.d5,b5 can’t see how white can manage, black gains space with tempo and getting ready for …b4 loosening white’s queenside and ultimately undermining the d4 pawn’s support while advantageously opening lines.

The kingside knight also looks like it wants to go to f4 with the idea of provoking Bxf4,exf4 and black has the e5 square as a springboard and the f4 pawn somewhat cramps white’s position and can be used to weaken later.  Anyway I like black better in this position, he is farther ahead in development, solid, and has a nice grip on e5. 

1.Bd1 with the idea of g3?  No, it’s too slow because of 1…b5!

1.Bd3 with the idea of bolstering the center while enabling Nbd2 without blocking the bishop push clock.

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+kvl-tr(
7+-zpl+pzp-'
6p+-zp-wq-zp&
5snp+Pzp-+-%
4-+-+Psn-+$
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1tRNvLLmK-+R!
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Here it is, the critical decision.  The Na5 is deflected away from the center, though c4 looks like a strong potential square for it, my queen is attacked lending urgency, and Bxf4 is clearly the first candidate move worth considering given the fork.  The position looks equal yet closed, the Bf8 isn’t in the game while white has a center.  However, black’s pieces seem to be moving around the wedge nicely.  …c5 and …c6 are also worth keeping in mind.  The darksquared bishop is my only good one, so I don’t want to part with it too soon.

1.Bxf4,Qxf4 clearance for an f5 strike,

1.Bxf4,exf4 2.Qd4 with a nice central position and if Qxd4 my center is even stronger with a semi open c-file.

1.Qf1 looks good, I seem solid and g3 is prepares kicking the knight.  However, it’s a passive move back and I’ll have to play Bxf4 sooner or later.

1.Bxf4 is my move.

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+k+-tr(
7+-zplvlpzp-'
6p+-zp-+-zp&
5snp+Pzp-+-%
4-+-+Pwq-+$
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1tR-+LmK-+R!
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Black has the bishop pair, want to keep things closed.  Black is also going to play …f5, how can I best prevent that or cope with it? 

1.g3,Qf6 seems forced as 1…Qg5 2.h3,Qh5 3.g4,Qg6 and f5 is clamped on quite well. 

1.0-0,f5 no, can’t castle just yet. 

1.g3 push clock.

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+k+-tr(
7+-zplvlp+-'
6p+-zp-+-zp&
5snp+Pzp-zp-%
4-+-+Pwq-+$
3+-zPQ+N+-#
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1tR-+L+RmK-!
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The move …g5 doesn’t seem to do much, if …g4 then I simply counter with g3 and moving the knight would open lines for the Bd1.  Black’s pawn structure is loosened on both sides of the board now, c6 and f5 are especially weak.  Since black is cut off from the queenside I want to get some operations going there.  But how?  1.a4 and 1.b4 both look good, 1.b4,Nc4 2.Nxc4,bxc4 3.Qxc4 defends e4 while still winning a pawn, therefore 1…Nb7 is forced.  However, he has Nc5 and maybe Nd8 available later to reposition the knight. 

I like 1.a4 with the idea of pressuring b4 and opening lines for the rook and maybe exchanging off black's lightsquared bishop since it covers some weak squares and diagonals, the a4 thrust is supported by the rook and bishop, my central wedge is pointing queenside.  Conclusion: white is clearly better due to his space, mobility, and pawn structure and black’s bishop pair is constrained by both black’s pawns and mine. 

1.a4,b4 2.cxb4 is terrible for black. 

1.a4 can’t find a way for black to continue.  His pawn structure points kingside, but I can't find a credible kingside threat for him for me to worry about, his knight is off on the queenside and his lightsquared bishop is stuck playing defense between c6 and f5.   

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3+-zPQ+N+-#
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1tR-+L+RmK-!
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I seem to have complete freedom over the board.  Releasing the tension with axb5 feels premature as my rooks aren't connected since 1.axb4,axb4 and the knight is defended by the rook and when it moves a connected rook will be attacking my lone rook.  Don't want to open the file until I know I can benefit from it without the opponent being able to or neutralize it.  

1.b4,Nb7 2.g3,Qf6 3.Ne1,Qg6 4.Nc2,f5 black loosened himself further, but is getting some counterplay going.  5.Ne3,f4 6.Nf5,Bxf5 7.exf5,Qxf5 8.Qxf5,Rxf5 9.axb5 and the rooks are disconnected making axb5 winning.  Black may have a better defense somewhere, but being able to either force exchanges or cut the black pieces further from the attack means I don’t have to fear …f5-f4.  The f4 square and b5 pawn are key in this position. 

1.b4 with the idea of grabbing more space, restricting black, and giving him more chances to go wrong compared to 1.a4 is my decision.

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4-+-+P+-+$
3+-zPQ+NzP-#
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1tR-+L+RmK-!
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Same idea as before, but this time with a pin to exploit:

1.b4,Nc4 of course loses a pawn so 1.b4,Nb7 2.Bc2 contesting the a-file.  I want to use that to attack the c-pawn from the side or mount an assault against the king.  Though my pieces would be further from my king. 1.b4,Nb7 2.Bc2,Rfb8 anticipating a c4 thrust 3.c4,bxc4 4.Qxc4 transforming advantages, I want to double on the a-file but my queen needs to support a2 and the b-pawn needs to stop restricting squares.  This is my primary variation. 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-sn-+-+(
7+-wQ-vlpmk-'
6-+-zp-+-zp&
5+-+Pzp-wq-%
4-zP-+-+p+$
3+NzP-+-zP-#
2r+-+-zP-+"
1+-+L+RmK-!
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I like 1.Bxg4 very much, deflecting the queen from e7.  Can it be refuted?  The queen and rook can be dangerous if I’m not careful.  White is clearly superior here due to his activity, passed pawn, coordination, and superior bishop.  I’d like to exchange down into an endgame, though 1…Qxg4 is by no means forced. 

1.Nc5 with connected passed pawns on the fifth looks promising:  1…dxc5 2.bxc5,e4 not really, my queen is tied to the pawns’ defense and the Be7 pressures it. 

1.Bxg4 push clock.

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6-+-zp-vl-zp&
5+-+Pzp-wq-%
4-zP-+-+L+$
3+NzP-+-zP-#
2r+-+-zP-+"
1+-+-+RmK-!
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I like 1.Bf3 best as it covers e4.  1.Qc4 looks reasonable too, but stops threatening the Nd8 an d6 pawn. 

I don't think your games have come up correctly?

All the positions are from this game: