Annotated chess game

Open Sicilian, often very sharp.

I do not understand the theory behind 8. ...Qb6?! blocking black's main counter attack tool ...b7-b5-b4 undermining e4

Instead of this, 12.g4 might have been worth a look, getting in a K-side push before Black gets castled. The option to play Bg2 would have remained open should Black have castled long instead.

agree. see annotation at 15.

Waste of tempo. Makes no sense.

This seems like an odd move after playing the defensive Nb3 several moves ago. I would think white would be looking for something different at this point. I might play something like Qf2 here.

Maybe 13.a3 was to be preferred. I did look at 13.Bxb5, but it doesn't seem to have quite enough: 13.Bxb5? axb5 14.Nxb5 Qb8! (Instead 15...Qd7!? can lead to this: 16.Bc5! dxc5 17.Qxd7ch Bxd7 18.Nc8ch Kf1 19.Nxa8 when White emerges with R and P vs 2 Bs) 15.Nxd6ch Bxd6 16.Qxd6 Qxd6 17.Rxd6 Ne5 and although White has 3 connected passers on the Q-side, Black probably has the better of it.

Again you wasted time, and you are neglecting your opponents attack.

I think White should play 15.Nxc6 here, slowing Black down a bit. The only other worthwhile move I can find is 15.a3, but I'm disinclined to trust it.

Anytime these last few moves, Nxc6 was playable and good. Neglect of this move throws White back.

More like a half open files however this isn't a bad move and white can always play exd5 later if he wants.

You actually played one of the two moves that didn't make it terrible for you. The other being Nxc6. exd5 and black is going to have all the attacks and a better position while you would be cramped.

The right move was 17.Nxc6 with the following possible continuation: 17...Bxc6 18.Nd4! dxe4!? 19.Bf4 and now if 19...e5? 20.Bxe5! Qxe5 21.Nxc6 and White is back to about even.

not sure I really like this followup. Perhaps white should have followed up with something like Nxc6.

This did lose the game for sure. That Bishop on b7 is going to eat that rook on h1. And if you don't allow it worse things will happen. Again Nxc6 is way better.

Better 18.exd5, and retake on g5 at a more opportune moment, if one arrives.

gk computer agrees, prefers exd5, and shows white substantially down for the first time in the game (though a downward trend began a few moves earlier).

A move that is late by 1 move.

I think now was the time to go all out. 19.Rg1. Here is the idea: 19Rg1 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 exf3 21.Bh6 Nh5!? (I'll leave it to the reader to explore 21...g6, which might turn out to be the better alternative) 22.Bxg7 Nxg7 23.Qh6 Qe5 24.Bd3 ... See how White has gathered as many resources as he can and is hurling them in toward the enemy king. If the game did reach this position, White might have just enough attack to survive: 24... f5 25.Nxe6 Bf6 26.Rxg7 Bxg7 27.Nxg7 ... (forced, as Black has been threatening mate for the last couple of moves) 27...Qxd7 28.Bc4ch Rf7 29.Bxf7ch Kf8 (the Bishop is taboo, of course). After 30.Qh4 White should draw comfortably. OK, such a line isn't a gimme in its early stages. Black has several ways he could go that might improve his defensive prospects. But there comes a time at which you just have to jump in, and pray!

Thanks Ion. Having played so few games vs 2000+ players, it is only now getting driven home how fast one has to play (especially with opposite castling). I was constantly looking at attacking options for white in this game. But defensiveness ruled and then, boom, I parted with pieces I could have used in an attack like this. Will have to work speed and sensible offense (even if sensible equals "jump in and pray").