Looking for feedback

podge52: Good game. unlucky about the slip

****: It was not a good game for me:) and looks like the next is not going to be much better. Now I got a feeling you are one of those guys you always fail to play a decent game. Anyways will try.

This was a comment I got after winning the game below.

I don't see myself as a very imaginative player and maybe my play is a bit dull and boring, (as soon as I have a material advantage I try to trade off as much as possible and then turn my advantage into a win) I very rarely look for fancy mates or any mates if it comes to that. obviously if the position presents itself then I will go for it but I'm not looking for it.

I'd be interseted in your thoughts firstly about the comment but also about my style of play.

Also how do you sign off a game that you,ve won when your opponent has played poorly ?

Good game sounds like a slap in the face, but what ??

"Thanks for game" is fairly harmless, I often use it and no one has complained.

So you whomped this guy/girl with ease and he/she criticised your play?

You just can't win sometimes! Well, actually, you can and did. Well done!

I thought it was a good, methodical attack myself although your opponent's defense was surprisingly weak considering his/her rating.

they're full of **** obviously.  Nothing quite as sad as someone yelling "WHAT A HORRIBLE PLAYER YOU ARE" to somebody that just beat them.  By the way 4... Nxe4! 5. Nxe4 d5 equalizes, I would play 4. d3 if you want to keep things quiet (honestly I would play 4. Ng5.  RAMBO!)

Yes I always look to pawn fork my opponent but Quite often fail to see the threat when it's played against me.

No problem saying good game regardless, I always viewed it as a matter of courtesy, regardless of whether or not the game was brilliant or not, and respect for the other player.

As for stylistics, I'm not sure why one needs to look for mate on every move.  Personally, I actually have a similar philosophy: if up material, why try to complicate and play risky for a tactical finish, when you can grind out a comfortable edge?  It's a matter of preferences really, neither philosophy is really incorrect.  It's just a different place on the risk-reward spectrum.  (Besides, I thought in that game you played quite aggressively myself).

Yes: I supose that game wasn't a very good example of my usual play.

Yes black position was hopeless.

This next game against the same opponent but with the black pieces demonstrates much better the type of game I play.