Annotated chess game

Interesting idea, taking advantage of the weak central dark squares. However, can't white get into a castled formation, and play a strong f4! to remove the outposted knight?

This is already poor for white, because the tactical idea of black's has gained him a tempo.

I adore "against common sense settings that make sense"!  

I agree with you Damalfi! I look for moves that go against the grain, as I mentioned in the thread I started. I think hityerclock, you have likely come up with one! Putting your knight on e6, in front of the pawn definitely goes against common theory. Good job, boss!

at the cost of the bishop pair and his more valuable bishop... white would have QS space compensation and control over the d4 weakness

It would be a worthwhile cost though, since pawn structure is critical in the endgame, frequently even more than having a bishop pair (as much as I love my bishops). Black would just have to avoid any mate attacks until material is traded off. Then white's double pawns fall and black's pawns prevail.

Well, in the Scandinavian booklines, the queen belongs on a5, so that makes sense lol. What is your ideal placement of your lsb? and what do you think of ...d6

This is my principle too on my idea of the Scandinavian. __ d6 and c6 are key moves on "my" Scandinavian preferred setting. But it doesn't "hold" against strong players...

That's what I was thinking, this is quite dynamic for black

...or f3, and keeping the dsb alive until the black one is dealt with.

I have a game in progress where white tries f3, I'll annotate that one when's it's over.

Idk about not playing f4, it is a common thematic attacking idea against the sicilian, although I think Nb5 (when it was prepared) would lead to interesting initiative

I am much lower rated, but I cannot see how this move improves white's position. If white wanted to avoid a possible Qxa2 (not really dangerous, IMO), he could play a3, thinking in b4 (after, say, Qc2) - and black's queen must think what to do.

There are a lot of subtle things going on here. a3/b4 doesn't work because a3 is hanging, and if black can get another piece to attack b2, the N on c3 will be pinned. I don't like a4 either, but I understand why it was played. In a similar position as white, I'd give Qe2 a try (hint).

How is a3 hanging, after ...Bxc3 Rxc3 and white is fine

15.Qc2 loses a pawn (how? that's left as an exercise for the reader  ).

Wouldn't Qc2 have been better?____ Ok, black can take the a pawn with BxN first, but he won't lose the superstrong bishop for a mere pawn... I'll take a more detailed look, because now I cannot see it.

Black's ownership of d4 is unconditional: White can not contest it with pawn to e3 or c3. That can not be said of White's hold on d5. Any piece that lands there has to count on the possibility of being driven out again by ...e6.

I agree with ionadowman, White can't play e3 or c3 while black can play e6 forcing the knight (if moved to d5)to move.

I enjoy a good positional sacrifice, and here it may prove crushing

White must protect b2 in order to play Ke2 the sooner the best. But he doesn't have tempo to do it.

The rook on e2 keeps the knight to go there, undermining white's best try - to exchange the black's dsb.

Nb5 can be driven away with a6, so it is not a good spot. And after this move the knight is pinned to the queen... by the way: what is doing the white queen on b3? It must help with the defence of the king, block the e pawn, whatever...

The irony of it! White began with a bind; now Black has imposed a bind even more powerful.

What is doing the white queen on d2? Was it not better placed on f4 or g5?

White is moving around his queen with no scope, IMO. Now, it is far from the king's defence, and it allows the black queen to penetrate. I don't know if white could have defended, but if he puts his queen there, ir "must" be because white has seen counterplay with something like Qd7 - not sure if it gives something.

This is an extremely difficult position to defend, and to be fair white does an excellent job of it. White's Q excursion is an attempt to drum up counter-play, and it would have worked if he had just one extra tempo. Black has to play precisely here too, as just one inaccurate move and all of sudden white will be winning.