Bulldog Challenge Game (captaintugwash v Marks1420)

gg, this was tight in the opening, possibly you even edged the opening, though after Rhb1 the dynamic of the game changed quickly.
idk if you just gave up here but it's a pretty easy win for me regardless, though it would take time. I expected 25... Ka7 here to protect the guard, I had ideas to move the queen to a3 via d6 and then break through, I think eventually I can win your guard and knight for my rook. If not, at the very least I figured I could tie up your pieces into defending, allowing me all the time I need to deploy my knight and/or guard into the attack. I thought maybe your best defence was to give up a pawn with d6 so your knight could get to d7, but that's a huge concession to make to deprive my witch if that c5 square, the c6 pawn becomes very weak now.
I don't think trading your queen for my rook and knight was ever really going to cut it, you were probably better off just taking the pawn loss, trading knights and trying to hold from there. I guess there won't be any winning chances though so I understand why you tried to create an imbalance.
24... Ka8