Any advice would be appreciated
Post games you have difficulty with, instead of games your opponent just rolls over.
5. exf5. You should just continue developing your pieces here. 5. Bd3 would have been better.
6. Bb5+. You should try to look at least one move ahead and see all your opponent's possibilities. After 6. ... c6 you have to retreat the bishop, so the check is kind of pointless.
9. Ba4. Your bishop has very few options from a4, coming back to the center with 9. Bd3 was better.
12. 0-0. You could have played 12. ... Bxd6
13. dxc5. Another chance to play Bxd6
16. Ng6+. When you see a good move, stop. Look for a better one. This is classic advice. Also, never move before considering all your forcing moves, checks, captures, threats.
18. Rfe1 also misses a mate in 1. 18. Qg6# (or Qf7#)
Still a newbie, but thought I made a pretty nice mate, but when I look at the analysis, I missed mate a couple of times.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Oh, I played white.
Thanks in advance.
Brian