Where can I improve?

Sort:
iBotelho

Hello folks,

Im bringing the last game I had, and the one I probally most enjoy playing, mainly because of the suspense it had, were I could not even think who will do the move to win the game.

 

So, without futher ado, here is it!

 
Could you please show any differents moves you might have done?
 
Thank you,
V
 
PS: Speaking about the draw, I was gainning time, but I forgot about that thinggy. S# happends
fieldsofforce

Before you make another move, please write a list of things to check  before making a move.  Keep that list with you at all times.  Memorize the list.  The first item  on  that list should read as follows:

1. What is my opponent's threat?

Then I suggest the  following for now:

2. Are any  of my pieces or pawns undefended?

3. Are any of my  opponent's pieces or pawwns undefended?

LazarusLong1982

Disclaimer. There are lots of people over here who plays and understands chess better than I do, but here are my thoughts

Also it isn't clear which side you played, I assumed you played white.

1. f4 - it is a matter of taste, but I don't think it is a good opening. I normally would play 1. e4

7. Bxe4 - I'd rather prefer to remain with two bishops. E.g. 7. Nxer dxe4 8. Bxe4.

10. Qa3 - I think this is a pointless move. It is not a good position for a queen and you waste time. I'd play 10. c4 moving up one more pawn to occupy the center.

12. Nc3. It does have the positive side that it wins tempo, but it also blocks your pawn on the line "c" and you'll have to move that knight sooner or later from that square. I think 12. Nf2 or 12. Ng3 could be at least not worse.

13. Qb5+ - pointless. Your opponent played poorly allowing you to double his pawns on the line "f", but you didn't use this opportunity. I'd play 13. Qxf5

15. Nh4 - what is the point? To win a pawn? But it is easily defendable. I generally don't like moving pieces around several times in the opening before all your pieces are developed and your king is safely castled. I'd play 15. 0-0

17. b4 - what is the point? Obvioisly you won't be able to do b5 without much preparation e.g. a4, Bd2 and 0-0. If you just wanted to develop your bishop to a3 (which seems quite reasonable taking into account your pawns in the center especially e3 and f4), then simple 17. b3 would look a lot better.

18. Ba3 - if you say "a", you have to say "b" as we say in Russian. So you should have played 18. a4 to prevent your opponent from blocking your Bishop. After his next move your bishop on a3 is literally trapped, and couldn't come into play anytime soon and effectively it is no better than a pawn. 

21. Rfd1 I think it was a good time to play 21. bxa5 and then Bb4 or maybe Bc5. Your bishop would be unblocked and would control an important diagonal line.

22. bxa5, the b4 pawn was of course doomed, but you didn't have to give up a piece.

35. Nf3 - what was the point in moving it to d2 a couple of moves earlier? If I was playing white I would be looking to get my knight to either d6, b6 or a5. Anyway after Nd2 you should have played next move Nc4 and thus ridding your oponent from open line control as he cannot move the rock to say a2 because after Na5 he wouldn't be able to protect the pawn on d6 and as a result your pawns "b" and "c" would be unstoppable.

I don't want to comment on every move in the endgame, but literally every move in the endgame could be improved, in general both players were playing without a plan and made tons of mistakes.