Annotated chess game

White really has problems mobilising his pieces, but even then that might have had to wait for consolidation (16.f3 or 16.d3). White can not castle right now, until something is done about the knight. 16.f3 went towards that aim.

But this is a mistake that brings White close to equality. The last few moves have not been happy for Black, and his ... erm ... misfortunes ... aren't over yet!

Also good was 17.Ba3. Positions don't always have one uniquely good move.

(?) A further mistake, though this one is rather more subtle than appears at first sight. The reason will become apparent in my next comment. Suffice it for the moment to recommend 17...Nf6 instead.

(?) Obvious - too obvious - but in fact this must have been what Black was hoping for. Instead, White ought to have continued his plan to activate the Bishop: 18.Ba3! (attacking the f8-Rook) 18... Rfd8 19.Qd6! and after 19...Qxd6 20.Bxd6 White will have achieved a fine active game in which his extra pawns are becoming a real factor.

(?) Wrong Rook! How often this happens, even amongst the strongest of players. J.R. Capablanca lost his first game defending his World Title by moving the wrong rook in this way, though the reasons were, of course, more arcane...

It was freely available! But more to the point, the Queen could at the same time protect the Knight! Had Black played the other rook to d8 instead (18...Rfd8!) then this capture would not have been available, and the d4-knight would have been lost.

(??) The last 4 moves have been very unhappy for Black. The huge advantage he had has long since disappeared, and White has the advantage now. The protection the Queen offered the d4-Knight was very real...

(!) Bringing the Rook under a lethal crossfire. White will get a monster material advantage.

(?!) Better might have been 20...Ra4, but Black still lost the exchange.

(!) Also winning was 21.Bxd4, but the Queen capture is preferable, leaving White almost a Queen's worth of material to the good. Black dare not exchange Queens.

Castling was OK.... sort of.

Black is certainly throwing obstacles in White's path, and good on him for doing so. But although White must lose material, the solution he adopts is much too drastic...

(??) Courageous, I guess, if White saw in this his only salvation. But in fact 23.g3 pretty much ended the attack. So what if Black wins the exchange by 23...Bxf1, White would still be a bishop and a zillion pawns to the good, with an easily winning game.

Surprisingly enough, the loss of the Queen doesn't knock White out of the game. He retains a slight material edge, and can activate his game enough to cause Black trouble.

(!) Obvious, and good. Black has to keep guard over the d8-square, so ...Qxc2 is out of court.