Space domination

Space control is one of those aspects of chess strategy I usually don't pay the attention it deserves.

In the following game of the first round of chess.com daily chess championship space plays a central role. So I decided to publish this analysis hoping to be more aware of this ideas in the future.

Maybe you have the same problems than me, and this may help you. Or maybe you can point some other weaknesses in my play. In any case feel free to share yours comments.

A way to measure the space control is to count the number of attacked squares in enemy territory

 After the opening black has a small space advantage thanks to its pawn in b4.

From this position I tried a manoeuver to reposition knights. My idea was to put pressure on white pawns, but the actual result was a space gain.

 In the position after this manoeuver there are 11 enemy squares attacked by black and only 6 attacked by white.

Now, a blunder by white gave black the opportunity to an advance of pieces in the center, gaining complete space domination.

After 21.Ndf1?? Bxe4 22.Qb2 d5 23.cxd5 Nxd5 24.Nc4? The following position was reached. Can you find the final push of the pieces in the center?

After this advance of black pieces, 21 out of the 32 squares of white half are under attack, the white queen has only two squares to go, in any of them she is exposed to discovered attacks with Nf4, and after that there are mate threats with Nxh3 or Ne2 depending on white moves.

The game continued a few moves more, but the result was already defined.