Managing Weaknesses

This is a game I played earlier today. I'm posting it for a couple reasons, the primary one being the fact that this was one of the few games where I had complete silence and could focus specifically on the game. It was also the highest rated opponent I had ever played, so the accuracy of his moves would be greater than any other game. Anyway, I went through and anayzed the game, so if anyone else could add or correct the way I evealuated positions I'd be grateful.

Nice game! Yeah, letting that knight on e4 was unfortunate, but it didn't matter, after the queens came off you just ended up with a winning endgame due to the pawns...

You had quite a bit of pressure before the queens came off, the knight was a nuisance, but it seems taking the queens off was a huge blunder. Not only did it make the pawns more powerful, but it dislodges the knight temporarily as well, and after c4, its definitely not coming back to e4 anytime soon. Well played, very instructive...

Thanks. I appreciate the comments. 22. e6 is interesting, and was definitely something I considered. I kept waiting for the right time to make that advance, but that again gives him f6 and subsequently control of d4. A quick g6 by black also looks to give good counterplay, keeping in mind that once both bishop and knight are aimed at d4, one will get planted there. Anyway, just some quick thuoghts on that. The Qg4 move you suggested was a simple overlook, and with his queen probably taking the bishop (if the king does I might get an attack together), it looks like I have plenty of time to get my defense together infron of my king.

Anyway, thanks again. I appreciate it.

Also, while analysing this I initially thought that not playing 18.exf6 was a mistake, but after looking through it again, It seems like I am able to seal up most of the weaknesses and use the advanced pawn chain as a winning resource. Although I can't say if I would play the same way again. Anyway, it made an interesting game.