I offered a draw but now I'm glad my opponent declined

I won this game, perhaps by the skin of my teeth but I'm glad I managed to prevail. 

On move 16...Bxd3 when I lost (blundered my queen) I thought it was game over. My opponent told me I messed up and was done for. 

Around move 25. Ra1 I offered a draw, which was declined. Fair enough I thought, let's see if I can fight my way out of this and clinch a win. 

On move 25...Qb2 I could've taken his queen with my bishop (something both of us missed, I only saw it when I reviewed the game afterwards). I decided to move my king as an in between move (note to self: always look at the whole board) and awaited Blacks next move. 

Of course he then blundered his queen to my rook. I then began to feel that I had gained the upper hand but had a large number of pawns to deal with. I really couldn't let him promote a pawn I couldn't grab. 

I managed to grab his final rook by sacrificing one of my own. My favourite move of the game was 43. Bd2. 

After move 58...Kh8 my opponent offered a draw which I declined with a checkmate. 

So I think this serves as a good lesson for us beginners. Always look at the whole board and don't go down without a fight, unless you know the position is totally lost and why it is lost. 

At this level no one is playing great chess. The person who blunders least or who makes the fewest mistakes will usually win.  

And analyse your games later. Sometimes the computer will suggest a move that actually might not be the best from a human standpoint, but more often than not it will guide you to where you've gone wrong. For example after the first few moves I missed a pawn fork on Blacks knight and Bishop which would've won me one of the those pieces. 

I can't say I'm totally proud of the chess I played in that game (it was full of blunders, mistakes and missed opportunities) but I am glad I gutted it out and pulled a win. I think had I played the same game a month ago I would've resigned after losing the queen. 

I think at the 700 - 800 level (and indeed below and up to 1000) the focus should be to eliminate as many mistakes and blunders from our games. Focus also on puzzles and tactics, count attackers and defenders of each piece. 

Playing longer time controls is a good idea which I see you have been doing. I've been playing 30 minute games for the past month and usually try to play one game per day and win it. 

Going back over some of my games I see that I lost due to one serious blunder or I didn't capitalize on my opponents mistakes. I also have a tendency to be too passive. Though striking the balance between attacking and defending is difficult.

I had a look at some of your recent games and it's a similar story to my own, a mistake here, a blunder there, usually leaving a piece undefended and it gets captured. 

Keep up the work and learn from your mistakes. And of course have fun. 

I forget who, but when I was learning, a GM or NM that I used to watch told his viewers never to offer a draw or resign off a blunder or 2 when you are in the 500-800 level. This is because the person you are playing will usually make more blunders as time goes on. You are still developing as a player around these stages. It is best to keep playing and see if you can count on your mistakes. I used to blunder pieces or just not see the whole board. However, sooner rather than later, you will learn. 

Indeed, a number of members here have said the same.  Your opponent could always blunder into a draw by stalemate.

This game is a prime example. We both blundered our queens for instance. 

Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a chess coach and chess book author based in California: www.ChessByLauren.com.

   I've been in the same shoes as you!  Crazy things can happen in chess, so I'm glad that you won this game!