A win and attempt at analysis
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Trying to work on my game analysis here. I thought I played rather well, however I definatly see some mistakes by my opponent I was able to exploit.
Since you're from the United States, I assume that you're fluent in English. That said, I'm not sure you understand the use of the word 'passive' in chess. Squares are neither passive or active. Squares can be controled by pieces, pawns, and even threats. Generally, 'passive' describes pieces, or even more accurately, the play and plans of a chess player.
'Passive' best describes play when a chess player does not fight for something. In this case, even though your opponent's play was flawed, he was definitely fighting for control of e5 and d4, so I wouldn't call it passive.
5. A better move was Nb5. For move 6. he then has two options: witdraw or Qe7. Withdrawl gives you Nxe5, Nxf7 and finally NxRh8.
If he went Qe7, you had d3 and Bg5!?
24. xe6 is NOT better. It gives the option of Nxe6 and loses him a rook is one, maybe two moves.
26.Bxf7+?? Your plan nearly fell apart there. What I would of done if I was black is KxBf7. White e8=Q, RxQe7, RxRe7. Loses a rook, but takes your bishop and prevents promotion.
After 26.Bxf7+ Kxf7 Why 27.e8=Q? I would of played 27.exd8=Q taking his rook and promoting the pawn.
5. Im sorry I dont see how he could play Nb5.
24. Yea. I was trying to show that taking the pawn wouldnt of helped him escape a loss of material.
I'm sorry if that is a grammatical error. Although I believe a bishop hemmed in by its own pieces would be considered passive as opposed to a bishop free to move and attack, which I would consider active. I did make a mistake calling the square passive. I meant to call the bishop itself passive since it really had no moves to make until later in the game. I guess I could of used the term "bad" as the bishop was bad because it was blocked by its own pawns. I still think be7 would of been stronger, lining up his queen and bishop for an attack on my kingside.
I feel like you could have a passive position..
little in terms of attacking chances, and only responding to your opponent's moves with defensive counters
I definatly agree I didnt have many early attacking chances in this game until I exchanged out a few of his pieces. Thank you :)
5. I was talking about white's castle. A better move for white was Nb5, using the knight on c3.
Ahhh, I was looking at black.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 - Philidor D.
Actually, this is the Petroff Defense. Usually, White plays Nxe5 next, but the way you handled it is also fine.
3...c5 - Didnt exactly expect this. Seems like the game is almost transposing into some kind of silician.. This may of been a mistake. Hems in his king's bishop and makes it passive.
While that's true, the main reason it's a mistake is because it hangs his e5-pawn. You fail to exploit this mistake with Nxe5.
4...Bd6 - protects e5. However I definatly think this makes the bishop too passive.
It's a good move. As you say, it's not the ideal square for his bishop, but he simultaneously protects the e5-pawn and prevents Ng5. The bishop is both passive (tied down on defense) and bad (on the same color as his pawns).
6.a3 - Trying to gain space queen side with b3 at some point and opening A file.
I hope you meant, with b4 at some point. Importantly, this also creates an escape square for your bishop.
7.Re1 - Activating the rook.
While this sounds nice, why are you developing your rook before your bishop,? d3, opening a line for your bishop and freeing your knight from its defense of the e4-pawn, seems much stronger.
7...a6 - Trying to dislodge my bishop with 8...b5
His plan might be the same as yours--to gain space on the queenside.
8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.Bd5 - Wanted to exchange off his strong defending knight on f6. 9.Bxd5 also gets my bishop safe.
For some reason, he helps you. 8.Nd5 b5 9.Nxf6 Qxf6 Bd5 would have left him with more queenside space and a more active queen.
10.c4 - 10...Nxd5 11. cxd5 leaves me with a space advantage.
c4 was a mistake... Ba2 was better. 10...Nxd5 11.cxd5 and he wins the bishop pair and doubles your pawns. It's not the end of the world, but this would have given your opponent an advantage to exploit.
Allow me to offer an exchange of queens.
You say it as if that's a good thing. You're behind, so trading queens is good for your opponent and bad for you.
20...Nxe5
Your opponent makes a tactical blunder. You have the advantage.
22...Rd8
Your opponent makes a second tactical blunder. You are winning.
23...Kf8?
Your opponent makes a third tactical blunder. Game over.
It's great that you came up with a plan, followed it, and exploited your opponent's key mistakes. Still, had your opponent played 10...Nxd5 you could have been in for it. And there were faster ways to win, such as grabbing his e5 pawn and quicker development.