An encounter with an NM

[Event "Let's Play!"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2015.03.27"]
[Round "-"]
[White "BigDoggProblem"]
[Black "1random"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1787"]
[BlackElo "1864"]
[TimeControl "1 in 3 days"]
[Termination "BigDoggProblem won by checkmate"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6
{
Standard Advance French stuff. Black gangs up on d4.
}
6. a3
{
The normal move; stops Black from playing 6...cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ which is an irritating check.
}
6... Nh6
{
Black would actually love it if White chopped this N; he'd get the g-file to use and he could simply castle Qside.
}
7. b4
{
Forces the c5-pawn to declare his intention.
}
7... cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Bb2 Bd7
{
This stops White from playing 10.Bd3, because after 10...Nfxd4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Qxd4, there's no 13.Bb5+ winning the Q.
}
10. g4
{
Out, damned Spot!
}
10... Nh6 11. Rg1
{
Not g5? letting the N back to f5. Better to keep him out of play on h6 for a little while.
}
11... f6
{
A key move against White's setup. The space-consuming e5 pawn cannot stay unchallenged.
}
12. Bd3 Nf7
{
Knew he'd find a way back into play eventually, but still, better to let him spend the moves doing that than encourage (as g5? earlier would have done).
}
13. Qe2
{
Just trying to hold the center together.
}
13... Be7 14. Nbd2 a5
{
By forcing White's pawns to advance, Black's Be7 gains freedom to move about the Qside.
}
15. b5 Na7 16. a4 Rc8
{
I think ...0-0-0 was a little better. Black ends up manually castling there later, and taking many more moves to do it. Then again, he ends up almost winning later, so perhaps he made me commit to something (of which I am not sure, even now...)
}
17. Rc1 Rxc1+ 18. Bxc1 Qc7 19. Bb2 Nc8 20. Kf1
{
Doing some manual castling of my own to get Rg1 over to the left.
}
20... Nb6
{
Grr...good square for this piece.
}
21. Qd1 Kd8 22. Kg2 h5
{
My manual castling has not been without risk.
}
23. h3
{
Seemed better than gh helping Black's R get active.
}
23... hxg4 24. hxg4 Kc8 25. Qb3 Kb8 26. Rc1 Qd8 27. Bc3
{
This is an error, I think. Ba3 is better, challenging the Be7.
}
27... Na8
{
Good move...the threat is ...b6 and the Qside is locked.
}
28. b6
{
Felt forced...White's staked everything on the Qside play. Can't let black lock the pawns.
}
28... Qxb6 29. Bb5
{
Naturally white doesn't want an ending a P down. It's attack or bust.
}
29... Bxb5 30. axb5 Nc7 31. Rb1 {somehow, this does not feel much like ATTACKING...} Nh6
{
Good thing Black's Q isn't over there yet, eh?
}
32. Nh2 fxe5
{
Another good move. Black starts taking control of the center.
}
33. dxe5 d4
{
d5 opens up for the N, ugh, I'm probably lost here.
}
34. Ba1 Nd5 35. Nc4
{
Desperation ... need b6 and Nxa5 if possible. Counterplay, for God's sake, counterplay!
}
35... Qd8
{
Knew she'd get over there eventually.
}
36. b6 Bb4
{
Remember when I say Ba3 earlier, challenging this Bishop? White can't take d4 either, due to ...Nf4+.
}
37. Rd1 Nc3
{
I can't help but think that ...Nf4+ was better. Black should be aiming all at my K.
}
38. Bxc3
{
Yes, let's trade that lousy B for Black's annoying N!
}
38... Bxc3 39. Rd3
{
A defensive Rook lift. ...Qh4's coming. Gotta have h3 defended and Rg3 at the ready.
}
39... Nxg4
{
Not sure this is sound. The game line made it look like not.
}
40. Nxg4 Qh4 41. Qd1
{
Perhaps Black missed this move? But it's fairly forced. Have to defend both g4 and h1 or else disaster.
}
41... Rh5
{
Uh-oh. Weakening the back rank allows me to strike back.
}
42. Rxc3
{
And there it is. Suddenly Black's lost.
}
42... dxc3 43. Qd6+
{
Black offered a draw every move until death from here on. A reminder that NM does not mean "more mature".
}
43... Kc8 44. Qc7#
1-0