Annotated chess game

Which should win for him, but it's not that easy, as we know.

This allows Black back into the game with strong counter-play. White will have work to do to negotiate the next several moves. The more compact and circumspect 13.Qd2 would have been much preferable.

I would've played 13.Bg2 as I like nice long diagonals for my Bishop. And, that would be to follow up by castling short since I prefer short over castling long.

Yes again in hind sight Qd2 was the move here I got carried away with thinking how I was going to attack but this is not always best as I am learning sometimes its better just to cover the pieces.

Too blunt. In my view 14...Qxf4 might have yielded more positive results, threatening the knight. If White were then to play 15.Nd4(?), the game would continue: 15...Nxd4 16.cxd4 Qe4 17.0-0 Qxe2 =. White would have to settle for 15.Ng1, temporarily placing his king's rook out of the game, and not doing much for the knight, either. Black would then be in a position to make much of the running for a considerable while subsequently, beginning with 15...Qe4.

15.Qc2 was perfectly safe, and recovered White's former advantage. 15.Ng1 seems to transpose into the line I suggested after 14...Qxf4: 15.Ng1 Qe4 16.f3 (or Rh2) Qxf4...

I agree. I would not have handed back a piece.

I did panic yes, I saw the threat and castled, this is why Qc2 was a better move earlier.

Well played, White!

...given you know what to answer to Ra-d8!

I did still feel at this point that my position was not bad, not brilliant but not bad, think my issue with chess is that I do not seem to be able to identify all of my opponents replies, this is something I'm trying to work on.

17.Rhe1.

As would I. I looked at 17.Rde1?? instead, but that R needs to stay there as there's no other way to protect the Queen.

Rhe1 seems the best option. Just out of curiousity, how would you evaluate Qb3, yielding the Knight to keep the Queen, any thoughts on how that would play out?

It is just possible that White had a combination in mind. The hole in it is not so easy to see...

Agreed with ION. However, although I wouldn't have played, this move would've come into consideration. I think that what white has in mind is giving up his Queen for both of black's R's. A Q for both R's, is known to draw. I think that's what white had in mind, but he had to have overlooked the black's Nc6. That stops it and only gives white a R for the Q which puts white at a major disadvantage.

I did have a idea in mind, I thought my opponent would take back with the Rook leaving a possible back rank mating threat, he took with the Knight, after the game he actually thought this was a mistake but I don't feel it was.

Much the same 'combination' follows 17...Rxd8 18.Rxd8ch Nxd8, viz 19.Re1.

...but black has Qb5, which defends the mate threat on e8. Right?

There is but one move to play. You can see, though, how it is possible White thought he had come up with a queen sac combination.

I'd retreat with 18...Qc4.

18...Qb5! was the hole in White's (possible) calculations. Once more the game veers wildly, back in White's favour. This is getting quite exciting.

I did, but thought that that 18...Qc4 was preferable, and then, if white attacked, 18...Qb5 is still an option. But, what I thought is second best, as I, as usual agree with Charles. Even though, bringing the Queen to b5, wouldn't have lost material, it would cost white a tempo.

I reckon if I were White, I would have taken with the rook, here, just about forcing the exchange. White could certainly fancy his winning chances in the subsequent knight and pawn end game.

I agree.

But, if black or draw offered me a draw here, I'd accept. And, if I were either white or black, I'd offer a draw, in this position.

id=jkarp says he would have offered a draw hereabouts. It would be reasonable to do so, but in my view a little cheeky from Black. Why 'cheeky'? I tend to think draw offers when behind are a trifle discourteous, but that's me. In my vuew White has very good winning chances; or at least there is still plenty of life in the position. White can scarcely lose, so may play on with the draw 'in the pocket'.

The pawn move has other uses: a road for the king up the board; makes it harder for White to use his extra (doubled) pawn; restricts White's options on the K-side. Cagey.

Yes but if you must move a pawn, f6 was better, restricting the white knight more.