I'd like to hear your thoughts on Game 1533778. My play was more aggressive than normal, and in my first offensive moves I hadn't anticipated the mate opportunity, but I saw it when he allowed my knight to remain on the d5 post. I had expected it to proceed as follows:
12. Nd5 Nxd5
13. Bxd5 Nxd5
14. Rxd5
Nothing exciting, but I was of the opinion that trading down material would provide me a palpable advantage due to superior development: my ownership of the d-file, my more active e3 bishop, my castled king, etc.
So, given the above, what would you suggest were his key errors? I would say 6...Nb4 as it was a fruitless move and I could further develop with a gain of time by attacking the knight if I choose. I also don't see the point of 8...a6 as it further gave me time to launch an offensive strategy of liquidation over the center with the result being my ownership of the d-file.
Thoughts?
Just looking through it briefly, 6...Nb4 is a waste like you mentioned. 6...Be7 is better. 7...Qd7 i still like 7...Be7 and 8...0-0 . 8...a6 is a mistake. 9...Bxf3 and then dxe5. 11...Bxf3 should have been played. 12...Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.Rxd5 f6 and its pretty equal. white is better developed but black has the 2 bishops.
I think the main problem was the black king being in the middle and the all the tempo black wasted with moves that don't do much ( Knight capturing on d7 and then coming back to f6 agian. It was forced but still, that wasted tempo.