Where did I go Wrong?

Here is a game I played recently.  Feel free to give me any advice.  I start with the Sicilian and didn't know what i was doing, obviously.  Another note is i used a database of master games to help with the opening, so the first 6 or 8 moves i had help with.  Sorry i didn't download my comments, i had trouble:(

I don't like 9 ... f6.

How about 9 ... de with the lines:

A) 10 N:e7+ Q:e7
11 B:e7 ed
12 B:f8 K:f8
13 N:d4
and black has two pieces for R+P

B) 10 B:e7 ed
11 B:d8 R:d8
12 N:d4 Na6
13 B:a6 ba
and while it will take black a while to organize his pieces, (and has to keep a close eye on tactical possibilities for those pesky white knights), he's up a piece for a pawn and has the bishop pair

C) 10 Qb4 Nc6

D) 10 Q:e5 N:e5
11 N:e7+ Q:e7
12 B:e7 Re8
13 Bd6 Nbc6
and I don't see a way for white to exploit the back-rank

E) 10 Qd2 f6
and while white has better development and the initiative, I don't see anything immediate

These variations are all rather sharp, but when you play the Sicilian you have to accept the potential for sudden plunges into wild play!

Additionally, 20 ... f5 was a mistake. 20 ... Bh6 was better, even after 21 B:f6+ Kf8

It occurs to me that the general principle underlying both my suggestions above (9 ... de and 20 ... Bh6) is that you don't necessarily need to counter threats with a defensive move. Sometimes you can generate a threat of your own which does the job just as well.

After 9 ... de there's also the line:

F) 10. N:e5 B:e5
11. N:e7+ Q:e7
12. B:e7 B:d4
13. R:d4

or

F1) 11. Q:e5 N:e5
12. N:e7+ Q:e7
13. B:e7 Re8

where again black has 2 pieces for R+P

I would agree with the above poster that, in general, if you have to play ...f6 in a Sicilian Dragon, something has gone awry.

How about 9 ... Nbc6

As Black in that game, I would have seriously considered playing 3. ... e5 and heading into a Botvinnik formation. White has already played Nc3, so he cannot meet 3. ... e5 with 4. c3; and otherwise the move d4 is ruled out and with the center stabilized, Black can safely develop with g6, Bg7, Nge7, Nbc6, O-O, h6, Be6 and then decide where to make his Pawn break... b7-b5, or f7-f5, or d6-d5.

10. N:e7+ N:e7
11. Q:d6 Re8
12. Bb5 Nf5
13. Qd2

looks like it works - but it's a very complex position!

Hmmm... I, personally, don't like the Knight exchange on f3, mainly because it unleashed both Bishops onto your castled position. Moving your bishop to f8 on move 25 was your downfall, as it openings the seventh rank for the White rooks and leads your King into a mating net. Great opening play, though. You played the Sicilian almost flawlessly.

I don't like your move order at all.  6.e5 would have forced you into an inferior endgame right away.

If your intention is to play a Dragon, is there a reason you don't play 2...Nc6 with the idea of ..g6 next?  Even the immediate 2..g6 is okay since (compared to the game) 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.e5 Nc6 and White doesn't have Bb5 pinning.

Thanks, i especially like 20...Bh6, didn't even see that after i looked at the game.  i agree i need to counter attack more than play flaccid defence.  I definitely tried to defend instead of counterattack, that was one thing i noticed after the game.

I should have brought the knights out to play sooner.  i was afraid he would take them, i looked at some of his previous games and he likes to capture knight and get a doubled pawn, but i shouldnt have been so timid:(

How about 8. .... Ng4 9. Nd5 Be5: 10. Ne5: de5: 11. Ne7:+ Qe7: 12. Be7: ed4: and black is a piece ahead, because Bf8: is met with Nf2:. So it will be better for white to retreat with 9. Qd2 Pe5:.

8. ... Nc6 seems to fail after 9. ef6: Nd5: 10.fe7: Qe8 11. ef8:Q+ Kf8: 12. Nd4: and white has a rook and two knights for the queen.

Well, you know yourself already that your exchange starting at f3 was not good. If you see the start and endpositions you see that your active pieces have been gone and his inactive ones are developed. He continues the combination you have started by winning a pawn.

If you take a second look at your position, which plan should you make at your fourteenth move? I have looked at it for a while, but I did not see. Only small points like getting the king out of the line of fire and starting to activate the queen side (rook). Moving the queen away from the d-line and wishing that the knight on e5 will be captured, so you can reunite two pawns. What would you do?

I really like 8. ...Ng4 that would have been nice.

He stated" I used a master database for first 6/8 moves which explains why the opening was handled well.......nc6 will help 

Actually your mistake was earlier than the 9th move, it was 7) 0-0; NC6 followed by 8) BB5 and BD7 would have completed your development and remove all tactical threats in the center, after the piece Exchange 9) B(B5)X N; BXB or the any Queen move like QD2 looking to play BH6, follows 0-0 and black is out of danger.

Thanks for all the great advice:)  Couple things i got from this is 1) dont rely on the master database so much, 2) look at more variations 3) there are many good lines of attack, so dont just "move a piece and see what happens". Maybe concentrate on improving openings and defences i already know somewhat instead of fancy openings (like Sicilian) that are highly touted, but can be complicated.