A Game I didn't deserve to win but got lucky

Lol, true enough, I'm thankful for what I've got! for instance, i got by in this game by way of luck, a trap, and a little strategy to finish it off.

Got to love Philidor's Legacy!

One of my favorite techniques, but I haven't gotten to se it in a game yet. :(

Yeah, once I got my knight to e4 it was my primary goal, I had just hoped he would wait a bit longer to advance that pawn to attack it. Regardless I managed to spring a decent trap and get away with sloppy play.

Haha oh boy, 15. Nxf8, talk about being greedy.

Anyway, here's some of my analysis on the game.

I don't like 3. d5 - a bit early, don't you think? There's no rush to open the center & "punish" white for his bishop placement. It ain't going anywhere. You might even opt to play ...a6 & gain tempo on ...b5 a bit later. I like 3... Nc6 to control e5 before playing Nf6. 3... d6 serves that purpose as well, but I'd rather develop a piece than make another pawn move at that point.

6...Nf6 is fine, I wouldn't consider it a mistake. White can get a nice position with some pressure on the e-file if he plays something like 7. Re1+ Be7 8. Qe2 but black has 8...Be6 followed by 0-0 and he's a little worse, but what can you do.

10...Bd7 feels submissive to me & kind of begging white to allow you to trade some pieces. How about 10...Bd6 and if 11. Nxc6 then 11...Qc7 with the initiative. The c6 pawn is doubled anyway, right? I didn't check with an engine but it looks quite alright for black and the pawn can be recouped if black chooses.      However, if white chooses 11. dxc5 instead of 11. Nxc6 we simply play 11...Bxc5 and now if white plays 12. Nxc6 then he gets into trouble, I think, after 12... Qb6. Otherwise, black's position is much improved - he got rid of those doubled pawns & while white has a superior pawn structure, black has more central control.

11... Ne4 is a bit too eager to trade off some pieces - which is a worthy goal, but I think you've worked out some of the problems of letting white get your queen on the e-file. I like 11...Re8, just contesting the e-file this way & going to pressure the e5 knight with the rook. Maybe ...Bd6 & ...Qc7 will follow.

That was a splendid checkmate - congrats on the win.

You're right about the Be6 move essnov! I didn't even consider that because I'd never blocked an efile check with that bishop before, generally because the d pawn isn't freed up or the bishop is otherwise occupied.