Annotated chess game

For sure, black's positon requires active play, not passive developement... but it is hard to see how. Qe7 followed by Ra-e8 could have been an alternate move, maybe.

It's all very intricate hereabouts. Maybe Black is figuring ...f5 can wait. I'm becoming persuaded that Black is doing all right, here, an White is finding it hard to mobilize his attack.

I'd play ...f5 here. Why wait?

Yes, that is what I was expecting and is probably best

Black doesn't seem to have quite enough after 14...Nxc4 15.hxg4 Nxb2 16.Qf3 Bxg3ch 17.Qxg3

Black had to analyze deeply this pawn grabbing chance. a) 14... BxNg3+, 15. QxN is not good, for the Ng4 has to retreat, giving white the chance to defend the pawn, with advantage. b) 14... Nxc4 is more interesting. Now, white has b1) 15. Qxc4, BxNg3+, 16. Kf1, b5, 16. Qe2, Nf2, 17. Rg1, b4!, probably winning due to the threat Bb5. (16. Ke2 is another story: b5, 17. Qd3, b4 (of Nf2)... and everything becomes very tactic!) b2) or 15. h3xNg4, Bxg4 (Nxb2 is not enough, thank you ion!)... staying a minor piece for 2 pawns under... and it is not clear how to exploit the position. So h3 is not a mistake: just a little trap for black! Black chooses the right plan.

Now white has a problem...

Whup!! Black had a terrific attack going after 16...Bxg3ch. Possibly a certain amount of mechanical thinking got involved: the first instinct is to take with the Knight, but that leads to nothing much.

Yes I agree, a lot feel that a bishop is slightly better than a knight and so don't look into variations where a bishop is given up for a knight.

Why not o-o-o?

0-0-0 is certainly interesting. Black has got Nxg3, 18. Nxg3 b5. Black can open files on the queen side relatively easily, white doesn't seem to have that much on the king side, the semi-open g file is currently blocked with the Bg2 and Ng3. My thinking was that after 0-0 my king would be relatively safe, and I would still have chances in the centre/king side, but I'd be delighted to hear what other readers feel.

I think O-O is better because White's pieces are prepared to attack Center and K-Side which also means they are better defending there. Also after Nxg3 Nxg3 b5 as charleshiggie says black can open up the Q-side combined with Qa5 and Nb6 white as to quickly move his forces from K-Side attack to Q-side defence. White's LSB Is also required to move back to f1 and then again to defend on the Q-Side. Blacks LSB is on a good to square to sacrifice itself at a4 or b5 to open the pawn chain and also The black DSB goes to f6 and attacks the long diagonal. So O-O means that white doesn't have to waste time moving itself forces to defend and can instead counter attack.

What's that gag about the stable door?

Does it count if I noticed it eight moves ago?  

Yes, I'll give you a bonus point!

Black should have minded next white's move...

By this move, Black condemns herself to passivity. Better might have been 19...Rb8 with the idea of opening up the b-file. Too bad about the long dark diagonal...

The weakling on d6 is a big problem for black now.

20.e6 is interesting, as 20...fxe6 loses to 21.dxe6 and black drops a piece.

Yes I was looking at that during the game. Black is forced to retreat the bishop to e8 and I couldn't see much of a follow-up. Shredder suggests after Be8 21. a3 opening up another front and white is 1.02 ahead. That is better than the game continuation so you were right!

Black panics, here... this weakens the kingside, with nasty consecuences, as happens...

I think 22...f5 is playable here.

Shredder gives it as the best move, but white is still 0.81 ahead.