Help me analyze my game

 

Hello!

I am a 1300 player on this site, playing 15|10 games.

Yesterday I played the game above, and for the first time, I really don't know what I could have done better, thus I can't really analyze the game and improve. That game probably shows my best.

So I'm posting it here, maybe someone can point out my mistakes/things I could have done better, so I'll be able to improve.

I lost badly and the only thing I can tell was probably a big mistake is losing the pawn on e5. I tried to develop my pieces and to have good positions for them, but didn't really had a clear plan.

Also note that I have no theory knowledge of the opening that was played. Maybe if I had I wouldn't lose the pawn.. but that is not an excuse for the lose, I could really do a better job on the middle-game.

Thanks!

I'm at about the same rating as you, but - you were exchanging pieces even when losing; you basically gave up any chances of making a comeback.

 

Thank you for your comment.

But the trades were forced ones:

Move 18 - forced trade of queens because the bishop was attacked.

Move 24 - maybe I should have let him take the rook himself and then recapture with the pawn with tempo on the knight, but still the trade was forced, no safe place for my rook.

After dropping the e-pawn, you have a slight lead in development and a half open e- and b- files. You also have the two bishop advantage.

Lead in development means you have to play to open the centre so that your better placed pieces can start generating threats. Having the two bishops also means you have to play to open the centre. So instead of Qe7, it is better to go d5. Then if Nxc6, you have Qd6 with big threats on white's kingside.

Alternatively, you could also try to work on the b-file with Rb8 while keeping options open to transfer the rook to the kingside via b5.

The problem with your play is you are not generating counter play to offset the pawn deficit. Ba6 leaves the bishop misplaced I think. Your idea of Nxe4 followed by Bxf1 (the whole reason for going Ba6) is flawed. You would be giving up two pieces for a rook. It was a blessing in disguise that you were not able to carry out your plan.

From looking at your game briefly, in my opinion, 11...dxe4 was a serious mistake. You have a solid center and open e- and b-lines, so you should have developed your rooks on e8 and b8 to pressure white's position more and restrict his pieces. Instead, you are giving away your powerful central pawn, leaving an ugly pawn structure behind (double isolated pawns on c is never a boon), giving your opponent easier development and the e-line dominance.

 

Also, 14...f5? move is just a blunder, giving no compensation and leading to you losing a bishop. Instead, 14...Rxe4 15. dxe4 (15. Qxe4 is dubious, as it gives black a strong attack on the king after 15...Re8) Rd8 would have given you some fighting chances.

 

 

Hope it helps.

 

 

Thank you for your comments. Now I understand my mistakes better, hope it will help me in future games.