One that got away

You played very well against someone rated 400 points above you, though.

I commend your play! 

That was excellent play, thanks for the game. I think the only real mistake was the last knight move, you might have been okay if you had just moved your rook out of the way.

Thanks Nytik, all my moves up until the last three were all thought out and considered. Saw a chance to get the rooks off the board and jumped on it like a seagull onto a chip.

Spot on Hydroxide, I should have gone straight back to d8 and reloaded my attack.

7...Bxd2 isn't forced move. Nxe4 would also be good because IF; 8.Bxb4...Qxf2#

So they would have to play 8.dxe4 then u have move options such as 8...Qd4 or Bc3.

13.Nf3?! Not sure i like his strategy. I would have played 13.c3 no rush to finnish development he can restrict some of ur options first if chose too.

16...Qb4! good move!

20.c4?! Not sure it does anything good as yet. I would play maybe 20...Na2 with the idea of Nc3 or something of that nature, or perhaps 20.Rd6 with the idea of doubling them up. That will do me for now.

Thanks Ian_Sinclair, 7...Bxd2 I should have said "forced a response" sorry 'bout that.

As for 20...Na2 I looked at that but 21.c3 traps my knight as far as I can tell.

Not while ur knight threatens the rook he cant play c3.

Lol, see what I mean about spotting the obvious.

You might have been able to draw after 30...Rc1 31.Kd2 Rf1 32.Rxc2 Rxf2+ 33.Kc3 Rxc2 34.Kxc2. Of course, my engine is not very good and neither am I, so this is probably not the best analysis, but I think you could draw here.

mhtraylor: I looked real hard for drawing chances after my *cough* knight sac *cough* but my king is too far from the action. Once the rooks are traded my outside passers are dead and the knight stops all chances of my king side pawns getting through.

 You would be surprised how easy it is to miss the most obvious and look for more complex moves, or put to much ephesus on a move or order of moves. Even at my level i find that happens.

Some of my efforts in the tactics trainer have been proving that theory 6 move problem with a double sacrifice, 20 secs, pass. 1 move capture the hanging piece, fail. It's a bit of a worry.

Upabushtrack, you are right; I was just thinking you could get at least get your opponent down to insufficient mating material.

What's wrong with 30. Rd3

30...Rd3 31.Rxc4  and I'm in the same boat (hanging knight and rook) but down a pawn.