RM vs Hoffman Estates 9/24/19 Board 2

Hello! The second match of the season, I played the English opening as white with a win on board 2. Any analysis is appreciated!

You achieved the STRUC-TURE, Nakamura would approve.

At move 6, I don't know why you wouldn't like your piece activity compared to Black. I thought that was the natural setup of the English. e3 seems to go perfectly with your idea of d4>d5.

Besides that, I really have no complaints here. Great resource trying to focus on the d6-weakness—fireworks happened because of it! Zeph highlighted some really great ideas that countered whatever potential Black had in putting up a stop after 16. Nxe5. I can't believe your opponent hung Mate in One

You did good!  Now for some analysis...

On move 6 I think you should have castled to get your king out of the center.  You could have played b4 and if your opponent played a5, you could play b5 and then attack the weak a-pawn at your leisure  On move 17 Nxd5 would have gained you even more material!  On move 20 I saw more mobility for the queen at d2 and not d3.  When you mention that Rac1 does not seem to serve any long term plans, why not have the rook server some short term plans instead?  After Rac1 Qb6 Bd4 Qa5 a4 Nc6 Bc3 Qc7 Qd5 followed by b4 would have left Black in a completely hopeless position.  Although his rooks are "developed" on d8 and e8, they have no active function and are passive pieces sitting on the bank rank.  Hope this is helpful!

Nice win. But it helped that your opponent blundered horribly with 16...Nfxd5?? There was no reason not to play 16...dxe5, after 17.d6 Qc6 18.dxe7 wins a piece, but that's just winning back the piece you sacrificed on move 16. Black is fine

6. e3, yeah castle first.
6. ... Re8, sigh ... d5 the English is a sort of reverse sicilian

10. ... Bg4 11. Bg5 Ng6 12. Qd3 h6 13. Be3

11. h3, I would have played that too.
11. b4 a5 is easier for black.
Your way cuts down the bishop's scope and keeps two black pieces passive

11. ... c6, nah go with ... Bd7 as preparation for a ... c6

13. ... Indeed as noted.

14. b3 (hmmmm) ... Bd7 (what?)
Go straight for Ba5 attacking Nc3 since white has weakened the square.

15. ... Qc7 not really.
15. ... Rc8 16. Bxd6 (say) RxNc3 17. QxR Nxe4 (back to exchange sac)
18. Qb4 (maybe) NxBd6 19. QxNd6 [ Now I needed a board ]
19. ... Nf5 20. Qb4 e4 21. Nh2 Nxg3
18. BxBe7 QxBe7 19. Qb2 Nxg3

Both of which look more useful to me.

16. Nxe5, very good spot as it provoked a blunder.

16. ... d6xNe5 17. d6 Qc8 18. dxBe7 Bc5
I would have thought. (like #4 noted)

Yes, I think e3 was a minor mistake. It did not really do anything other than build a pawn structure. This pawn structure didn't really help in defending anything. a better move would have been O-O to set up your attacking pieces, ie. the Rooks.