The best lost I've ever had...

I'm going to split my answer into a few posts, I think.

First of all, WHAT book moves? 3...f6 is already considered a very bad move.

Black is pretty much guaranteed a bad position even if white plays normally. This move simply violates opening principles without any compensating factor. White is already in charge after that (usually, 3...Bc5 or 3...Nf6 are played, and are both considered very good. 3...Be7 is a passive alternative which is not too bad as well).

Actually I believe white plays rather poorly in the next few moves. Could have been much worse for you. So after white's 8.fxe3, he's better, but you're still very much in the game.

8...f5? now you must have been suspicious about this move:

moving this pawn even once weakened your king's position and blocked the g8 knight's development to f6, now it moves a second time and makes the king even more vulnerable, while allowing white to open the position at the same time.

Not only that, white already has one more piece out, an open f file, and a castled, and much safer king than black's.

Considering all that, opening the position is suicide.

Just to outline how bad things can get here:

If white played 10.d4 and the black king is in terrible trouble. Can't play 10...e4 because of 11.d5 and the board gets blasted open. Black will lose very quicky if that happens now.

White again seems to misplay the next few moves I believe, and with 13.Qg3 pretty much squanders the crushing position he had.

The game seems interesting again after that point.

The endgame phase after the queens get exchanged later on is where you gradually lose the game again.

First of all: during the series of moves up until 23.Rf1, white gains a massive space advantage on both wings. In addition, black has the problem with the bishop and the open f file to solve. Not easy (perhaps not possible).

27...a5!? is an interesting way to develop play. Keep him worried!. break his structure, and don't let him stabilize.

I think 29.Nb3 is another big error on white's part. Just Ne6 and I think black is on the verge of resignation.

30...Ra8!? should be considered. Create active play for your pieces. In endgames too. Playing without a rook is like resigning.

31...c5 gives white very good winning chances again.

Heh, white makes a funny mistake after that.

34.Na4 and 35.Ra1 seem so natural...But they're wrong tactically. Just play 35...Kb4:) Now you're threatening Rxd3 for real (there is no more discovered attack with your king on b4), the rook has to keep guarding the knight and Nb2 allows Kc3:)

White missed an instant win with 36.Nc5+ followed by Nd7, and after rook moves, Nxe5. Easy win from there.

Still, after 37.Nc3+, white is winning easily.

With all the niceties about the explanation of why you sac that bishop later on, being a piece down at this stage means you have a lost endgame.

46...Rd7, as to your question, nope. Everything loses from here. Resistance is futile.

After the exchange of rooks at move 52, resignation would probably be in order:) no point anymore.

Interesting ups and downs in this game.

You seem to need a clearer understanding of opening principles, and other strategic principles (such as open files and the ways to use them, space advantage etc.), as well as have a few regular openings you play, instead of weird (and inferior) lines such as 3...f6

...7 Bxe3 was not good. you give his rook an open file and give him more central control. Better was Bb6 then if Bxb6 then axb6. Also I completly disagree with your opinion which seems to be that closed positions are unplayable

Another important issue is your comment when you played ...f5, as if it's bad if the position becomes closed.

Thing is, you can't think that way in Chess. Can NOT. I can't stress this enough.

If your position isn't backing you up before you open the position, you're committing suicide by opening it, and you should WANT to keep it closed. You can't open the position just because you don't like closed positions. Must try to do what the position dictates. ONLY when both options are viable (closing or opening the position) should style come into play.

Also, sometimes, while opening the position may be ok, closing the position would be better for you because of, for example, better piece placement (such as knight outposts). So I believe that comment when playing ...f5 shows a real problem with your approach to the game.

When studting the position realisticly, and not emotionaly, you get:

"I'm less developed, my king is a lot less safe, and he has easy open line/s for attack. even part of these reasons would mean keeping the position closed, so, KEEP it closed. actually, try to make sure he can't open it before I get my development and king safety in order".

Hey Kevin

Your play is definitely improving!  You're anticipating attacks much better, building pressure, and whilst your positional play has been torn up, I think thats getting better too.  I can also see this in our gam.

I hope you're not daunted by your work being picked to pieces reasonably harshly, take it as things to think about for the next game.

Only thing I have to say is watch out for moves like 16. Bxc6

Maybe I'll post our game when it ends and we can both get some constructive criticism ...

Not in the slightest!!! If someone came on here and said, "you did pretty good" when I didn't, what did I learn. The general feeling I'm getting is that my opponent didn't play a good game against me which led me to think I did good.

I'm loving all the advice and will most certainly annotate our current game MB to put up as I would like to hear opinions, especially on the end game we're locked in.

Thanks again to everyone, Your insight is awesome!!!