Let's Name It "What Went Wrong Archive'

I think a grandmaster would find the engine's winning plan here. I wouldn't. If you did not, it's perfectly okay. This one is very difficult. It's interesting to look at the engine's lines, try different defenses for black, and see what the engine does about those. (Click the small magnifying glass icon for engine analysis).

As to the second part: you can't expect a rook blunder, but you need to spot it when it happens. In this game you did spot the opponent's blunder and won the game. You should be happy about it, and treat the missed difficult win with "oh that's interesting".

Not finding the engine's best move is completely fine. But what I found changed the evaluation from +1.5 to -0.2. How could I think so that I at least sustain the advantage?

You only have "the advantage" because the engine found a complicated way to win.

This is not a type of position where white is winning no matter what. After a random normal move, white is only slightly better, due to the control of the only open file.

Your Qd5 move is worse than a random normal move because you lose your only advantage, the d-file. Black can play Rd8, forcing trades, and the resulting rook endgame is slightly better for black: black's rook is more active, and black's kingside pawn majority can is better that your queenside pawn majority where the b3 pawn is weak and backwards.

A good player would see Qd5 Rd8, and would play something else. A very good player would spot the Qe3 - Rd5 - Rbd1 idea and play that.

I was thinking of playing Qe3 with a Rd3 follow up idea.

I didn’t consider Rd5.

Very interesting - I was thinking Rd3 for Horizontal Defense + Trying to double Rooks on File.

Qe3 + Rd5 does threaten Blacks pawn while keeping the doubling on file idea still alive.

More of an offensive move.

I am more of a Defensive/Restrictive/Preventative Player.

So that’s why I was thinking Rd3 to defend White B pawn while doubling.

O nice pfp lol

Can you give some advice to play better with black? Should I try to learn some openings?

I wish I could give you advice, but I can’t.

My 2…Nc6 King Pawn Repertoire has holes!

I don’t play the Two Knights Defense.

I have no defense against the Italian Game.

The Position you’re playing with the Black pieces is a position I never played before in my life because I was scared.

I was afraid of the Fried Liver Attack players because of the fear I chose to play French & Caro Kan was I was young.

I was a coward and I played defensively because I couldn’t handle their aggression.

I only know how to play the White Side of the Italian Game.

When I reach 1300 or 1400 - I started trying 1…e5 because I was less afraid. I went thru chess phase where I wanted to bait my opponents into attacking.

I fell in love with the Philidor Defense!

It was the perfect trap opening.

I goated and baited my opponent into doing Fried Liver Attack against me so I could capitalize on their failed attacks.

Then when I got 1600 I entered a new Chess phase. I became less patient.

I got tired of waiting for my opponents to fall into my tricks and traps.

Instead, I decided to be more aggressive.

I started attacking more.

I changed lines to the Sicilian!

I harnessed the power and terror of the Sicilian Dragon!

My attacks became more fearsome.

So you see that is why I don’t really know the Black side 2…Nc6 position very well.

I only played 2…Nc6 against Ruy Lopez & Scotch players.

I don’t know the correct way to play Black against the Italian Game or 2 Knights Game.

Now look at this game. Comments added in the analysis. Look at move 11 to 14. Now tell me how to improve.

Move 3

It’s best if Black takes the pawn.

It’s the Scotch Opening.

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King Checks are generally not considered great, unless they benefit you in some way.