Here is my recent game, i play as white.
If you don't feel like reviewing the entire game, go to move 16 and 19, those were the turning points. I want to improve my thinking process and understanding of strategy.
Feedback on my recent OTB tournament game would be appreciated
The problem was you had an attacking position but than rush to trade pieces mindlessly. Why would you go in to trade the pair of knights, which was forced if you play e4. If u want. to attack try to keep pieces on the board. Trading dsb was necessary, but after that you had to take advantage, get rooks lined up against enemy king, create pawn breaks on the kingside etc.
The problem is that you were to disatracted with an attack that didn't have any signs that it will work and you kept insisting it even when there were clear signs that it's not going to work.
In chess you need to be flexible and change plans when needed. After 15...e6 it was more than obvious that the attack wasn't going to work and you had to combine threats or create a second front. I would play 16.g5 to avoid the worst and then I would try prepare e4 after a prophylactic Kb1.
16 e4 seems like the right idea...but it looks to be dropping a pawn at the moment. Maybe 16 g5 followed by 17 e4...
agree with ghost_of_pushwood. You put the Knight on d2, so you should have been playing for e4 or c4 out of the opening
Generally speaking, when there is a plan (in this case white would like to attack to the king side, especially because of heterogeneous castles) is difficult to change it. 14... Th8 suprised you and it is a decent move. My suggestion is that when you feel that your attack is no more devasting, it is better to stop play fast and think about a new plan. If you can't attack in the king side, try to attack in the center. Of course change your plan is easy to say and more difficult to do. A good exercise in chess is: sometime stop play fast and think about a generic plan. When you have to find a strategy, normally this takes time and it is not like attacking "push the pawn and try to made fast".
I failed to hear the call to attack! On move 6, although 6.Be2 was certainly a reasonable move. But don't you think you might have developed a bit more before screaming "Charge!" and going all out on the king side. I don't see what you has after 7...Nbd7 (not h5) 8.h5 e5 countering in the center.
Did you look at 9.Qb3? it looks better than Ne5 . Black did you a big favor with 11...Nxe5, but you didn't follow up on your attacking plan when it actually had a chance to succeed. 12.dxe5 Nd7 13.g4! was in the spirit of th attack, and looks good.
ghost_of_pushwood wrote:
16 e4 seems like the right idea...but it looks to be dropping a pawn at the moment. Maybe 16 g5 followed by 17 e4...
Hmmmm...I thought i had that covered? I could be wrong (which i have no problem admitting) I still think its the right move, but most certainly the move you suggest is very playable.
By move 14 I see four things: One move 11, you allowed a trade. When you have a space advantage like you did, you should not trade. You then question whether your recapture with a Bishop was correct. I say it was. Why? Why double your pawns? On move 13 you again allowed a trade when you had the space advantage. Finally on move 14 you push another pawn to the attack (g4). You are violating a principle: do not attack before you are completely developed. UNLESS you have a clear chance at mate or winning a piece. Develop first, then choose your attack. That's the number one lesson. Also, learn how to play with a space advantage. In my opinion. Good luck!
Never been a fan of these systems, seem too dogmatic. 5. c3 whats the point? He isnt pressuring your d pawn, you dont end up playing Bd3 and Qc2 which I would have thought would have been a better diagonal. I think I would have been more tempted with c4, Nf3 or Bd3. Not that c3 is losing or even bad, I just dont understand the point.
"You then question whether your recapture with a Bishop was correct. I say it was. Why? Why double your pawns? " Because 12.dxe5 displaces Black's well-placed Nf6 and allows you to immediately open up the kingside . After 12.dxe6 Nd7 13.g4! White has a strong initiative. We don't care about the doubled pawns, let Black take it. We are going to open the g-file with a strong attack. I really like White
And I think Black is not without resource there. 
Certainly not winning for white--I could screw it up for sure. But I do think white stands better. And if you consider 5...O-O as the sign to attack! Then the line I give is in that spirit
Sounds like fun! That's what chess games are all about.
Enver_Hoxha wrote:
The entire attack was a failed concept.
Although you are a feared Albanian dictator, I disagree. White has good attacking chances after 12.dxe5
16. Qf2! (defending the h4-pawn) Qf6 17. Qg3! (taking control of the f4-square), followed by e4 almost certainly busts black.
I would say White is 85% won after this.
But not 17. e4? Qf4! and that queen is difficult to drive out.
Lots of small mistakes for both sides throughout.
Thank you all for your feedback! It was helpful. I have learned that:
- Avoid trading pieces when attacking or when i have space advantage.
- Learn how to utilize space advantage.
- Improve my pieces as much as possible before attacking.
- Don't get stuck with a specific idea, look for other objectives, perhaps come up with a new plan. I got obsessed with attacking black kingside that i started doing it at all costs.
"I failed to hear the call to attack!" - Before this game i watched a game where white attacked the kingside using london system and it was successful, so i tried to do the same.
"Did you look at 9.Qb3?" - yes, but i saw that black would improve his position by Qc8, preventing g4. All my attention was directed towards removing blacks kingside pawns.
"Black did you a big favor with 11...Nxe5, but you didn't follow up on your attacking plan when it actually had a chance to succeed. 12.dxe5 Nd7 13.g4! was in the spirit of th attack, and looks good." - Yes, that what i should have done. Only reason i didn't choose dxe5 was fear of breaking my pawn structure =( g4 is what i wanted to play since i started the kingside assault.
"Never been a fan of these systems, seem too dogmatic" - Playing dogmatic is my way of compensating my lack of opening knowledge and experience. If i play moves that are proven sound, the risk of blundering is less. When i get stronger i will trust my analysis & intuition more.
"16. Qf2! (defending the h4-pawn) Qf6 17. Qg3! (taking control of the f4-square), followed by e4" - That is certainly a better line. Any improvement of my pieces before continuing moving the paws is better.