OK, you deserve a decent response (you just gave me the best laugh of the week! -- even Experts 'hang' their knights for no reason at times). Down in C & D class, hanging material is pretty much what the games are all about most of the time imo. Up in B and A class, the blunders are usually not so terrible but nonetheless ignoring sound chess playing principles at times is usually what determines the outcome of those games. Of course, opponents need to recognize blunders when they happen.
For sure, I'd have done 18. RxN, planning on swinging my B around to c2 to target the fairly open Kingside. Opening lines to the opponent's kingside position such as the g file would be a good trade off for isolating pawns. Else, you're correct. On general principles, isolating pawns is not so great a concept.
Oh, wait a minute! RxN nets you a piece up. (The hazards of listening to an A/B class player.) Forget what I just said. Gaining a piece, in the absence of needing to fend off a devastating mating attack, trumps all other considerations.
sftac
I recently finished this game against a higher rated opponent. The outcome was a draw. I am happy with that. This is about the best I can play right now.
On move 17 it appears he hung his knight but I didn't take it because looking at the possible variations it looked like a trap, plus he is higher rated and I thought he wouldn't hang his knight for no reason. After the game he confirmed it was a trap that I was wise to avoid and not a mistake on his part. However, I still can't calculate exaclty how. It would have destroyed my kingside pawn structure, but would that be adequate compensation for a knight?
Please look at this game and tell me how I could have done better and what key issues you see that I need to fix to get better and lasting results.