Beginner Game

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kl_chess

I played black and thought I built a solid position, before blundering it away. There's a popular thread in this forum requesting more beginner annotated games so thought I would give it shot. Would love to get any thoughts/tips both on the play as well as the annotation so I can improve. Thanks!

ZeroSymbolic7188

hmm. I won't try to analyse because I don't feel qualified, but what would be fun and perhaps educational, that I have not seen done on hear, is to have two amatures play one another, and annotate the same game from each point of view. Then post both annotations and get feedback.

Schachkaempfer

Think about 10...Qh4+.  Always be aware of open diagonals to the King on the e1-h4 and e8-h5 diagonals, and how to exploit them when your opponent advances his King's bishop pawn.

10...Qh4 would be good also in this game, since you had your Kt. on f5.  If white were to block the check with 11. f3, then follow with ...Nxf3 and white may end up losing a Rook.  Or the King moves 11. Kf1, then you fork the K and Q with ...Nxe3+.

Remellion

11...Qh4+ would have been good timing too. Even more so that your rook was out of harm's way first.

15... Qg4 is also OK. 16. Bxd4 Nf5 17. Bb2 Be6 with a strange game where white is up a pawn but is wildly uncoordinated; I prefer black.

17...Rd8 won the bishop. 17...Bg4+?! let the white king run off the file, where 18. Kc2 Rad8 19. Qf2! unpins the bishop and saves it, although white is still under immense pressure.

After 21. Kb2, you have a won position, with two connected central passed pawns with your whole army behind them, against a set of sleeping white pieces and cowering king. 21...e3 followed by rolling with d3, e2, d2 or whatever wins. Many things win, although pushing the pawns home should be the first thing coming to mind.

25...Nxf4??, 27...Rbd8?? and 28...Rf8? (you're correct, ...Bf3 was a lot stronger) were all identified by you. Those are moves that threw the game away...

29...dxc2 still gave excellent chances of a win, though.

31. e6! is strong. 31...f6 lost as you demonstrated in the game. However, 31...fxe6 still loses to 32. Qe6+ Rf7 (32...Kh8 33. Rxf8#) 33. Qxf7+ Kh8 34. Qf8#. Your best chance was perhaps 31...Rf3 trying to seal the f-file, where your pawns should still hold at least a draw (but probably win, I'm too lazy to think now.)