First Game on Chess.com

This is the first game I have played here on chess.com. I thought it went pretty well except for my last move, where for whatever reason I did not pay attention to the Bishop on a6 . There are a few thoughts I had on the game included.

any comments would be greatly appreciated.

I just now noticed that if black would have played 16...dxc6 and I would have forked the queen and king with Ne6. Black would have just played Bxe6. So my brilliant idea of Bxc6 was a bad one  and I again should have just took the rook.

Eric,

I simply loved your analogy of our game, which i was sure was a goner for me, but at the last moment and with a few prayers, moans and groans, the game kinda turned around. This game was a real challenge for me...i hope that we can play again!

ha! great game. been there many times...

You still could have won the rook after 16...Rb8; 17. Ne6+ dxe6; 18. Bxb8.

Just my two cents.

you couldnt have forked the king and queen anyway if he took your bishop because his bishop on f1 would be able to take ur knight when you tried to fork

4...b5 5.Bb3 puts the bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal. Did you consider 6.Ng5!? In most cases it's better to develop before attacking, but here Black has to defend very accurately and if he succeeds White is not much worse. This should at least cross your mind.

9.Nxb5 - nice.

10.d4! - Did you realize this also mobilizes your e-pawn?

15.Nxc7! - Excellent!

"Here I got a little antsy and tried to sucker black into a trap. I should have just taken the Rook and gone up another piece. Instead I tried..."

When ahead, simplify (trade off pieces) to make the win easier.

17.Qxa4 - "Another free pawn." Not free at all. Black could've replied Rxb2 winning back the pawn and now you have 3 enemy pieces in your camp attacking f2. How about trading off pieces and winning once you have the last piece standing?  ;)

24...Qxd6 - You are in great shape. Only a few more trades to go... why don't you bring your bishop back to safety with 25.Bd5? When you have a big lead you should avoid such sharp play. It can (and did!) backfire.

"Here I should have again attacked the Queen with my Rook with Rcd1."

Argh! Oh well, it happens, been there done that. :)

After 9...Ng4 you should have played 0-0. Much safer to get your king out of the center before you start opening it up.

Also, Bg5 threatening their queen did nothing but waste your time. Sure you developed your bishop, but they got to assault your kingside with their pawns, and you could have played Nbxd4 as you've got more pieces on d4, and their Nc6 is pinned to their rook.

 Not sure if it was better but Qxd3 instead of cxd3. Looks like your queen would be more mobile, and not much more threatened, plus it would give you the option of 0-0-0 as all their pieces seem aimed at your K-side.

Also your Ne6+ tactic would fail to Bxe6 (freed after the dxc6?? you mention) which would also mean their queen was protecting their R on a8. Similarly, Qxa4 might have been better played as Bxa4, as your bishop is just hanging there with no actual protection.

You seem to have lots of fun going on attacks, which is good, but sometimes I think that gets the better of your pieces and they'll be ripe for the plucking if they aren't brought back to a safer spot. A good first game though!