30... Bf6
How Did I Lose?




Instead of trying to mate, I prefer 40. ... Rb5 preventing white from promoting.
But I think the reason you got in trouble despite winning a piece early has two components.
1. You need to complete your development. You could dothis by castling instead of attacking the opponent's queen aimlessly, or later playing Bf6 and Kg7 to bring your h8 rook into the game.
2. You sometimes are inaccurate even one move ahead. For example 28. ... Qa5+ 29. b4 Qd8 indicates that you didn't see ahead one move at move 28. I much prefer 28. ... Bf6 intending to play Kg7.
41. ... Bxb8. It's probably better to take the queen than the knight.


whistleblower - in answer to your question, after white's move 36, you are completely winning.
But you have to exploit your advantages in a more direct and energetic way.
Rd5 is rather weak because it threatens nothing, and vacates the back rank, strengthening white's only hope - his passed b pawn.
my first instinct would be to try and blast open the position with 36...e5. However White responds, both your Bishops and rooks have lots of play against the exposed King.
(i started to work through some examples, but actually, i don't think its necessary. better you look for yourself!)

my first instinct would be to try and blast open the position with 36...e5. However White responds, both your Bishops and rooks have lots of play against the exposed King.
Perfect response considering the circumstances. My move should have been 36...e5 with the pawn. It would have pressured white more. I am shaking my head with loss at this game though, I should have won it.

yeah, i know the feeling - it happens to us all.
i still shake my head when i think of the way I blew a won position against a 2300 player.
In a OTB tournament!
It was mate in 4!!
After only 19 moves!!!
It was soooo obvious!!!!
There was a massive crowd watching!!!!!!
I had to resign 5 moves later!!!!!!!
Doh.
Hello all. I am completely baffled how I lost a game even though I had a material advantage to begin with. I would like some serious advice how I could have played this game to win. Please analyse the game below and any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated.