Problems with the beginning of the middlegame

Hi, this is a recent game I lost.  My key mistake was probably 15.Qg6, trying to take advantage of a pinned pawn to attack the king.  The idea was probably not sound, as evidenced by the line in the game, but my question is: once you're fully developed and have a decent position, how do you get a sense of where to attack?  Or, what would you have done from this position (after move 14)?

Any advice is welcome.

Let's see... 9. e5 wins a piece for a pawn.

(And I seriously wonder why you're trying to protect the e4 pawn, rather than moving it up to e5 in your next moves as well...)

There were a few more blunders, but you had noted them yourself, so won't comment them.

Anyways, in open games like this, what you want to do is to push your centerpawns forward and create complications for your opponent while your small pieces wait for an opening to eventually attack.

A friend of mine once said to me that the starting position in chess is the only perfect position. In other words, every single move that's made is a mistake. Just try looking for what kind of "mistakes" your opponent makes, and counter with less damaging mistakes. Your opening wasn't bad. And as for your Qg6 move, it wasn't your main mistake. Sure, 15. Bxh6 gxh6 16. Qg6+ would have given you a nice attack and a lasting initiative, but 15. Qg6 wasn't really that bad a move.

Just keep on trying and learn from your mistakes. That's how we all improve. And if you ever want, I'm up for a friendly game =)

~Amanda     

DUDE, you coulda had this game in the bag.

 You're absolutely correct that 15. Qg6?! is the wrong move. 15.Bxh6! is correct. After he does 15. gxh6 (cause not taking the bishop would be losing a pawn for nothing), you follow up with 16. Qg6+ (taking advantage of the pin) 16...Kh8 17. Qxh6+ Kg8 18.Ng5, after which you check him on g6 again (if he moves his bishop to e6 sack the rook on e1, then take with the bishop) take the f pawn with your bishop to cover his flight square. Then you have the dual threats of Qh6+, he blocks with his knight, you take his knight with queen for checkmate; or if he takes your bishop with the rook you take his rook with your knight for checkmate. 

Now I know he could mess this contiuation up with his 18th move, so you have to find your own forced win. This is just an example of how you could have conducted your attack. If you want a book that teaches you with numerous examples of how to conduct a methodical kingside attack read Irving Chernev's Logical Chess: Move by Move.

Thanks so much for your comments, guys.  In all my time looking at this game, it never occured to me to push the e-pawn.  Later on in the game I was tearing my hair trying to find a way to get that loyal steed to move since it's the linch pin of his defense.

LDSSDL, I've been tearing through Yasser Seirawan's books.  How does Chernev compare in terms of players at my level?