Me vs GM Raven Sturt

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piedraven

I played him in one of his simuls recently. I lost but I put up quite the fight until succumbing to a battery along my back rank. He jokingly told me to quit using an engine. I'll treasure that complement until I'm 80 years old and they put me in the ground.

Any thoughts for me? What should I learn from this?

tygxc

@1

You came out of the opening on top.
8...Ne4 moves the same piece twice, while Bc8 is not yet active. Better 8...c5 to attack his center, get rid of your doubled pawn and prepare ...b5 and ...Bb7 to activate your bishop. You have the bishop's pair and Bb7 has no opposing white bishop, so Bb7 would reign supreme.

16...Rfe8 why not take the rook 16...Bxf1: after the exchanges you stay a healthy pawn up.

20...Rd1+ why not take the free pawn 20...Qxe4.

22...Be2 what is the bishop doing there? 22...Bc6 attacks pawn e4.

25...Qa4? is a mistake. What is the queen doing there? 25...Qf1 is more active.

27...h6? is the decisive mistake. 27...f5 was the only way to save the game.