Originally posted by strokem1
What could I have done to improve the opening?
4. d5
personally, I really don't like the look of it, to me, it just seems to lose a valueable central pawn, and a tempo moving the Knight.
4. Bb4+ c3 Ba5 - looks ok.
or maybe even something a lot simpler, like g6 or Be7
6. Bd6??
this allows f4! - which pins and wins the e5 Knight.
- the only defence - is Qe7, which hinders your own development, but won't lose you a piece.
13. g5
You should allways be VERY careful when advancing the kings pawns, they tend to leave his majesty feeling a little vunerable