New to Post-Game Analysis

In yet a further effort to improve, along with doing daily puzzles and reading a few books, I have decided to begin analyzing games that I have lost. I had often looked over my lost games, but never in thorough analysis, so I have posted my "post-mortem" analysis on Game 3608186. I would appreciate comments or suggestions on my analysis or alternatives, too, so I can know how to better analyze and hopefully improve.

Thanks in advance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-Opening: Sicilian Defense Najdorf Variation
-Perhaps 10. ... Nd7 or Nc6 was stronger (further development)
-Perhaps 13. ... Bc6 was stronger (maintains control of h1-a8 diagonal)
-Definitely 17. ... Nb4 was stronger (great knight outpost; 18. a3 Nc2 wins material)
-Definitely 19. ... Bf6 was stronger (still protects e-pawn and threatens 20. ... e4)
-Definitely 24. ... Bf6 was stronger (controls a1-h8 diagonal; allows 25. ... Re8)

Hey bud,

12...Qxd5
14...Nc6 allows you to develop and block
15...Rd8 semi-pin the knight to the queen
19...f4 (20.Nxe5 Qe4!)
20...Bxc4 gets you a pawn before the exchange begins
22...Qxd8
23 and 24...Bf6

Originally posted by LordofADown
Hey bud,

12...Qxd5
14...Nc6 allows you to develop and block
15...Rd8 semi-pin the knight to the queen
19...f4 (20.Nxe5 Qe4!)
20...Bxc4 gets you a pawn before the exchange begins
22...Qxd8
23 and 24...Bf6

you played well and you played d5 a key move which is sometimes hard to do. later in the game had some things that could have gone better but you played the opening and a little bit into the middle game well.

17...Nb4? and you strip yourself the option of playing 19...f4 and the lead.

19...Bf6 was much stronger, but f4 was best.

Originally posted by kmac27
...later in the game had some things that could have gone better...

I'm not 100% sure you couldn't have drawn that... I think a pawn push would have been difficult... just my 2 cents.

Originally posted by ih8sens
I'm not 100% sure you couldn't have drawn that... I think a pawn push would have been difficult... just my 2 cents.

Originally posted by wittywonka
Alright, I hope you won't be upset when I ask questions, but I mean them sincerely, not belligerently.

How would taking with the queen (12. ... Qxd5) have helped?
I figured 14. ... Nc6 15. Bxc6 gave me two isolated pawns, although I agree it would have developed more.
I agree with 15. ... Rad8 (or 15. ... Rfd8).
I still think 19. ... Bf6 was stronge ...[text shortened]... inning the bishop to the rook.

Thanks for the suggestions, though, especially 20. ... Bxc4.

Originally posted by LordofADown
g7! and the queen retreats and the bishop should be free to take the rook: Bxa1.

Oh yeah! and 22...Qxd8 seems better because your rook is covered and the bishop would just clutter your back rank. The bishop is more effective on e7.

Originally posted by LordofADown
12...Qxd5, after the c4 attack the bishop simply goes back to it's original square, however the Queen retreats to more preferred squares than it's original. Might as well take with the piece that's not already on it's preferred square.

14...Nc6 is simply more agressive

23...Bf6 24. Qxf5(not Qc5 right?) g7! and the queen retreats and the bishop should be free to take the rook: Bxa1.

Originally posted by wittywonka
Well, I could have tried, but since I had the doubled pawns and a knight down I didn't think it was worth it. Plus, I was irate about 27. ... Qe7?? 😠

Originally posted by ih8sens
On move 14 I don't personally like Nc6 because Bxc6 is a reply that probably deserves a ! ... the pawn structure is damaged beyond repair.

I also think you may be a little mistaken about move 23 though I may have missed something as I didn't look at it long.

Originally posted by LordofADown
I understand your qualms about 14...Nc6, either move is acceptable.

23...Bf6 should check out, where the heck is korch? haha