OTB Game Analysis and playing technique advice

Alright. 

hmm, well, I thought that if black pushes f3 somewhere in the near future, then I'd have a backward pawn on f2 and an isolated pawn on g4. In addition to that, I'd have a rather difficult time defending the g4 pawn since the ranks would be closed by the f2 pawn and king. Black has a pawn majority in the king-side, and the situation I just described now after black's f3 doesn't look pleasant for white.

Well, I must say I was very surprised by 17.f3 My feeling is that if black plays ...f3 I'd rather be happy : first because he hasn't finished his development yet, so pushing pawns should do him no special good, and second because I see the f3 pawn as a lonely orphean who's going to fall later...

But okay, let's say it's not completely clear if ...f3 helps Black or not. Another thing is that as white, I'd see myself as being a pawn down, but with some development advantage, so I'd strongly consider opening the game here. What about 17.a4 ?

I see, perhaps I was being defensive knowing I was playing against our top player here.

17. a4 was a move that didn't come across my mind. Let me see:

17. a4, c6 18. Nb4, black could continue to attack the Knight with 18. ...c5 19. Nd5, and then the bishop with 19. ...c4. But since you mentioned black's being behind in development, he probably won't push c4 after neutralizing the Knight with his c6 move. So it would be 19. ...d5, attacking the Knight and the e4 pawn. 20. Nxc6, preventing castling, 20. ... dxe4 21. dxe4, and black has a gaping hole in the center.

Now, black can't castle because the f7-pawn would be hanging, and white gets a half-open file after bxa4, since b4 simply gives the pawn away. After 21. ...Bc5 in an attempt to complete his development and pinning the f2 pawn and creating the threat Nxg4 the position looks unclear. White has a queenside pawn majority, while black has a kingside majority. Am I right?

So much from a simple pawn move. 

Yes, it looks like in all those variations, white comes up on top.

After 19...c4, simply 20.dxc4 gets a pawn back with a good position, while on 18...d5 (kudos for seeing that idea), white has many interesting replies, such as the one you found (19.Nxc6 dxe4 20.axb5!? looks strong too - white creates a passer) or also 19.exd5.

So 17.f3?! looks like the point where you start drifting, because you forget about activating your pieces, especially your rooks, although you correctly noticed you were ahead in development

Now you can look at the sequence between 21.c3 and 22...h5(!) with fresh eyes, and maybe draw some other conclusions

Thank you for these ideas, they give a novice player like me that push forward, and I really appreciate them.

Yes, I agree, looks like I basically gave the initiative to black after 17. f3 when I should have taken advantage over black's incomplete development. I'll have to re-write my annotations in my personal copy of the game with these new insights. Thank you, once more.

But still, have a look at the moves between 21.c3 and 22...h5 (maybe tomorrow ). 

This kind of analysis is difficult, but it's rewarding... (yeah, I've already said that...)

Ok, I've returned.

Looking at the position after 21 moves, black has weak pawns on a6, c6 and d6, but white could not attack them now. Perhaps White should open the center first after some preparation and start exploiting these weaknesses. Also, since the center is closed, black would most probably start a flank attack.

21. Rad1 seems to be a better move than 21. c3. It activates the rook, puts it in the center, prepares the d4 move to open the center and removes it from a dark square, knowing that black has a dark-squared bishop.

21. Kg2 also looks attractive. It opens the first rank for the rooks in anticipation of black's h-file pawn assault, and it puts the king on a light-square, preventing black from delivering a check with the bishop... or a series of forcing moves in some variations.

21. Rad1 however is more active. After 21. Rad1 Be7 (connecting the rooks) 22. d4 h5, the resulting position is more active than that from the game.

Also, after 22. Kg2 h4 23. Ng1, his aggressive passed pawn has nowhere to go.

Am I right with these?

Yes I think both 21.Rad1 and 21.Kg2 are much better than 21.c3?

What's the use of opening the d-file anyway, if only your opponent's rook can use it ?

Notice also how his 22...h5(!) move is an efficient way to activate his rook.

Having your pieces on light or dark squares is of minor importance in this closed position (it would be more important in an open position, especially if your king was exposed to an attack).

I see, I was just thinking that after an exchange of rooks, I could deflect the other rook from the h-file...however the bishop and king are guarding the rook...perhaps opening the d-file isn't the best idea here, thank you for this. 

With that, I'd go with Kg2 first, preparing Rh1. If black plays, after 21. ...Be7 (I think he has to connect the rooks first somehow). 22. Rh1 h5 23. Rxh5 Rxh5 24. gxh5 Rh8 25. Rh1, white gets a supported passed pawn, forcing the rook to block it, and  black's bishop can't do anything to attack it now. White's knight gains some breathing space, too. Is this right?

Isn't the Knight on e2 ? (you've played Nc3-e2 to attack f4).

In the resulting position, you don't have a passer (your h-pawn would be a passer if there was no black pawn on g7), but you're doing fine. This is certainly much better than the bad position you had in your game after 24.fxg4.

So you've found many improvements on your play by using a couple of simple principles :

- the rooks need open files : if there's none you have to consider which files can be opened by both sides, and who's going to control them (17.a4!; 21.Kg2!?; 21.Rad1)

- if you have some development advantage, open the game (or at least think about it : 17.a4!)

And don't worry too much about your pawn structure if your pieces are passive : active pieces can compensate for a bad pawn structure (and much more !) while a neat pawn structure won't save your game if your pieces are doing nothing... In a closed position, the pawns breaks open the way for the pieces.

You tried to analyze the game by yourself, which is a nice effort (very few people do that). This is the very best way to improve, because when you compare your analysis with stronger players' input, it makes more sense and it sticks better. So try to spend some time analyzing, post in the forums and you'll make good progress for sure.

Oh, yes, the Knight is on e2, I misplaced it on f2. Ng1 was on my mind, and that certainly can't be done with the Knight on f2, haha, thank you.

Now I understand, similar to black's h5 move to activate his rook, the a4 move could also activate my rook. 

Indeed I always find myself conscious of my pawn structure when I should be paying more attention to the activity of my pieces. Perhaps my previous losses made me attempt to play solidly rather than aggressively.

Thank you for these advices and for the time in guiding my analysis. I really appreciate them. I'd keep them in my mind in my future games.