Where did I go wrong?

Originally posted by Jake Ellison
Game 4532823

Asides from the blunders at the end, where did I go wrong with this opening? I don't have much expeirence with the Sicilian as black, but I though my worst move of the opening was 6. Nf6 instead of 6.d6. I am I right?

I liked the pawn sac with 8. ... Nd5, I think you definitely had compensation for the measly pawn. If you play 8. ... Ne4 white gets some play with Bxf7+ and Qf3+ where he/she regains the piece though even in that line your position is fine. At move 12. ... Qa5+ regains the pawn with an advantage to black since you have the mighty bishop pair who adore an open centre.

At move 16. ... Bc5+ was begging to be played since the pedestrian response of Be3 runs into real trouble after d5 or Bb7. White must play Kh1 to which you could reply with d5 exposing the fact that the c-pawn is pinned and your opponent's 11. c4 was not really a good move.

Move 17... exf4 just leads to an exchange of one of your bishops for a bishop of your opponents that was having problems being developed: why help the opponent in this way? 17. ... Bb7 was screaming out to be played and you would really begin to dominate the board.

Move 21. ... Re7 was a very loose way of protecting the f-pawn, f5 seems a lot safer to me and is harder for white to break down. 22. ... Qc6 looks very tempting but is actually the losing blunder. Your one move threat is well answered by Nd5 and the game is effectively over.

Originally posted by demonseed
I liked the pawn sac with 8. ... Nd5, I think you definitely had compensation for the measly pawn. If you play 8. ... Ne4 white gets some play with Bxf7+ and Qf3+ where he/she regains the piece though even in that line your position is fine. At move 12. ... Qa5+ regains the pawn with an advantage to black since you have the mighty bishop pair who adore an ...[text shortened]... losing blunder. Your one move threat is well answered by Nd5 and the game is effectively over.

Thanks very much for this. I did consider the moves you suggested at 16 at 17, but I guess I didn't see the effect they could have had. I'll try to pay more attention to consequences next time.