Annotated chess game

blocking the e file with whites own king does look pretty bad, however I guess Jo was worried about 21.Kd2 Qb4+ forking king and the f pawn.

This is a position that requires great defensive skill to defend accurately. The key to defending is block aiding. In my opinion it is a mistake to think that white is pressed to fix her rooks. This is not the case because white can fix hers in one move while Black needs two to fix his. All of this means that white has "time". Here is how white can stymie black while at the same time fixing her rook issues. 21. a4 a5 22. Bc3 Rgf8 23. g3 Rae8 24. Kd2 and white king is un touchable behind his castle wall.

In which case simply g3 protecting the f pawn first was maybe in order. g3 is a useful move anyway

@jkarp: here are the basic definitions for the definition of a move: inaccurate ( )- a mistake that is considered minor; doesn't require immediate attention, but it still should be corrected in case of a serious move. dubious (?!)- a move that signifies trouble; it is a warning about a move that you made and it is a moderatly minor mistake, but it should still be addressed. risky, but worthwhile (!?)- a move that is dangerous and should you mess up, this move will be wasted. It is considered a good idea as long as it is played correctly. mistake (?)- a move that allows the position to be messed up and has to fixed ASAP if possible. Disadvantages are more prominent in the move than advantages. Blunder (??)- a move that lets the opponent win completely. It cannot be fixed whatsoever. Good move (!)- a valuable move that usually involves a winning tactic or sacrifice. More common than an exceptional move and signifies more advantages in the move. Exceptional move (!!)- a valuable move that is considered extreme such as an extreme sacrifice or tactic that wins shortly. Almost everything about the move is an advantage.

Taking with the queen would ahve improved her position a little bit.

I am black, I am male! If I had taken back with the queen, after her king moves, my queen is attacked, and my pawn on b7 is hanging again, so I would probably move back to b6, so the position would be the same.

^ did a double take on that   Anyway, the only reason why I'd be so inclined to take with the queen would be purely because she travels farther than the king can. This makes it possible to find a better square for her, but in this position, that wouldn't be the case. So whomever checks whom hardly matters in this case.

No, this isn't a serious discovered check because it doesn't do much. Black can now retereat to a much safer square.

The real cause for alarm for white is that black can now move his pawns again. Making it much more difficult to draw.

24.Bd5 Rgf8 25.Be6?! Qxe6! 26.Rxe6 Rxf4+ 27.Kg1 Kxe6 wins for black.

Yep that was my first thought as well. 24.Bd5! and white looks to still be doing well. I hadn't thought about that, good point paulmorphy91

White can improve by not playing Be6 immediately and play 26. g3 preparing Be6+

Maybe it is possible for white to retain control of e6 with 24. Bd5 Rgf8 25. g3!? but 25. ...g5 looks uncomfortable for white.

I think Bd5 was the way to go, though one can see the appeal of this move that icreases central control and preparesto open up favourably with a well timed d4 advance.

I prefer 24.Re4 preperaing both Rae1 and d4. At the same time, it protects the f4 pawn.

The other thing about 24.Bd5 was that if 24...Rgf8 Be6+ then if black plays g5 later white can simply play f5.

Sorry, but i don't agree   After 24.Bd5 Rgf8 25.Be6+ Qxe6! 26.Rxe6 Rxf4+ 27.Kg1 Kxe6 wins for black.

Please see earlier comments about the 24. Bd5 line

I wonder if protecting with the bishop may have been favourable Be5!?

Maybe.

The issue is that 25. g3 is a temperary plug since ...g5 opens the f-file with force. alternative may have been 25. Re4

This is one of those cases where eating up the free pawn is not as good of an idea. #1. it side lines the strong LSB and #2 it does not exact enough of a price from black to open the F-file. I.E 26. Be5 gxf4 27. Bxf4 and now if black wants to open the file he has to exchange the rook for a bishop.

Actually, I agree with this move. It's not as much about the free pawn as it is about trying to prevent Black from playing h4, disturbing the kingside pawns even further. The White King is starting to look grossly exposed and those two pawns could have opened the doors to the two black rooks screaming down the board at the king. Taking the "free" pawn at least prevents this, and following a Bg4 check, the weak f pawn can now try f5 with some hope for White. But I still don't like her chances. EDIT: Of course, I just remembered that the f pawn is probably lost after this move anyway. Which brings me back to questioning a better move for White and circle-backing to the whole concept of "God, does Black ever look great right now!"  

I am not sure it was her best move, for instance 29. Rd-e1, Qxa2, 20. Rxe7 looks very strong for white.

Yeah, I felt this was asking for a little much. The king isn't occupying the Q-side anymore and the pawn was already being traded in for second at the time. I don't see why you'd want the rook to attack c2 yet; it strikes me a little premature.