Annotated chess game

The Gameknot analysis version is as follows: game

@ jkarp - Think of 'Opening' or 'Attack' as beginnings from White's point of view; 'Defence' from Black's. Owen's defence is usually something like 1.e4 b6; or 1.e4 e6, 2.d4 b6. I occasionally play the latter as a change from my usual French Defence (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5). The opening in this game is somewhat irregular, hence the GK appellation 'Queen's Pawn Game' (1.d4 being the first move).

Black does have a bit of a problem here of weak central dark squares.

Well, that is a pretty solid post for the knight. It could become a proper outpost if the c-file opens for Black's rooks (e.g. after ...Rc8 and ...c5).

Passivity means to play passively.

This ought to be pretty OK for Black, given White's rather scrambled pawn structure. But Black's knight doesn't really have a good square by way of a safe haven.

@jkarp - yes but only if that allows you to mount a camouflaged attack letter on. ( which the higher rated player might under estimate, obviously !!)

Speaking of exchanges - I would take the advice 'that it's generally a good idea to exchange against a stronger opponent' very much with a grain of salt. Exchanging for the sake of exchanging can be a very dangerous policy. A strong player can work level exchanges - even exchanges that look slightly disadvantageous - to strengthen his hold upon the game. If you are not giving away any advantage in time, or space (let alone material), then the exchange might be well enough motivated.

Yes Ion, point taken and its comment has much merit and thruth.

I have a feeling that 18...Rfb8 might have been the better choice. A threat would then be ...a5; Qb1 Na5.

It seems to me Black could here play 20...a5 21.Qd4 Nd7 and 22...c5. It would leave the b-pawn weak, but it would be adequately protected.

Doubled rooks can be strong, but your mistake against Mr. Stockel wasn't that you allowed his rooks to double, but that you overlooked checkmate.

Pawn push (to gain space), not a pawn break. Pawns have to be fixed to be a break, where the pawn you push challenges a part of the fixed structure.

Black has pretty much carried out the plan I suggested in my previous comment. The only weakness Black's position presents is at b6, and, to a lesser extent, b5. White's game is much more fragile, especially on the Q-side.

Instead of 26...Bh7, I would have looked at 26...Nc5 threatening ...Nxa4 and ...Be4. I believe Black might have had a marginal edge, then.

To help protect the b6-pawn.

Yes!

Probably White ought not to have allowed this. I do believe Black has an edge, though whether it can be transformed to a win is hard to say.

At some point along here, I would have considered ...g6 to discourage any f5 pawn break by White.

I don't like interrupting the rooks' communication in this way. Black seems to be happy with a draw (and why not?) so, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so, I would simply shuffle the King between c7 and c6. I can see no breakthrough for White.

It was a risk, possibly, but I don't think a mistake altogether. But maybe one can get too fixated on shuffling wood, when one has to be very aware of the possibilities that the opponent might conjure up. For example, had the King been on c6, moving the knight to c5 came into consideration, threatening the a-pawn, discouraging the e4 break, and inviting White to open a file for Black's rooks by BxN PxB etc.