Game 1: matt-cornelisen vs Rudygt; 08-26-2019

While I hesitate to call this an analysis, this is, at the least, my attempt at reflection and introspection. This is my first game on Chess.com and, thankfully, I didn't blunder my queen. Overall, I played cautiously and failed to recognize some opportunities that could have made my win more decisive.
Per usual, I played 1.Nf3. The Réti Opening is the opening that I have played most consistently with over the years. My opponent's rating was 1024, and they played book moves at the beginning.
1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Qxd5
I was happy my opponent recaptured with their Queen as I knew I could gain tempo while continuing my development.
5. Nc3 Qc6 6. Bg2 c4?
My opponent made a push for space that I felt was ill-advised. The pawn is protected, but they had no pieces developed to support this push.
7. O-O Nf6 8. Ne5
I wanted to grab that pawn and hopefully lock in a slight advantage.
8...Qb6?!
This move allowed me to grab the pawn with tempo.
9. Nxc4 Qc5 10. Ne3?
Hesitant. I should have supported the knight with b3.
10...Nc6 11. a3 Nd4 12. b4 Qc7 13. Bb2 Nf5?!
I often find my opponents' Knights bothersome, so I was happy for the opportunity to trade off material and double pawns in this game. Stockfish tells me I'm way ahead in this position, but at the time, I believed things to be much tighter.
14. Nxf5 exf5 15. Nb5?!
I wanted to press their Queen and go after the pawn on f5, but I should have moved my Rook to c1 first.
15...Qb6 16. Nd4 Bd6 17. Re1 O-O 18. e3 Ne4 19. Bxe4??
My irrational hatred of my opponent's Knights leads me to give up my light-squared Bishop in a poor exchange. Pushing the Knight back with d3 was a better option. Instead, I let up on the gas and the game trends back toward equality.
19...fxe4 20. Ne2 Bg4 21. Qc2 f6??
Losing the e pawn outright.
22. Qxe4 h5 23. Qd4?!
At this point, two pawns up, I wanted to simplify. Similar to earlier in the game I was too hesitant to try and push toward greater advantage.
23...Qxd4 24. Bxd4 Rad8 25. Rac1?! (25. Bxa7) Be5 26. Bxe5 fxe5 27. d4 exd4 28. Nxd4 Rd5 29. Rc7 a5?! 30. Rxb7 axb4 31. Rxb4?! (31. axb4)  Ra5 32. Ra1 Rfa8 33. Nc6 Rxa3 34. Rxa3 Rxa3 35. Rb1? (Unjustifiably worried about back rank issues, better is 35. Kg2) Bf5??
Hanging the Bishop...
36. Rc1??
...which I fail to notice.
36...Be4 37. Nd4 g5 38. Ne6 h4??
Giving me another shot at the Bishop via 39. Rc8+ Kh7 40. Nxg5+ Kg6 41. Nxe4...
39. Nxg5?!
...which I miss while grabbing for a pawn.
39...hxg3?! (A third shot at the Bishop, one that I finally take.) 40. Nxe4 gxh2+ 41. Kxh2 Ra4 42. Ng3 Rh4+ 43. Kg2 and Black resigned.
Neither side faced any time pressure in the game.


https://www.chess.com/live/game/3980713194

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2019.08.26"]
[Round "-"]
[White "matt-cornelisen"]
[Black "Rudygt08"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1192"]
[BlackElo "1024"]
[TimeControl "300"]
[EndTime "11:34:08 PDT"]
[Termination "matt-cornelisen won by resignation"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Qxd5 5. Nc3 Qc6 6. Bg2 c4 7. O-O Nf6 8. Ne5
Qb6 9. Nxc4 Qc5 10. Ne3 Nc6 11. a3 Nd4 12. b4 Qc7 13. Bb2 Nf5 14. Nxf5 exf5 15.
Nb5 Qb6 16. Nd4 Bd6 17. Re1 O-O 18. e3 Ne4 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. Ne2 Bg4 21. Qc2 f6
22. Qxe4 h5 23. Qd4 Qxd4 24. Bxd4 Rad8 25. Rac1 Be5 26. Bxe5 fxe5 27. d4 exd4
28. Nxd4 Rd5 29. Rc7 a5 30. Rxb7 axb4 31. Rxb4 Ra5 32. Ra1 Rfa8 33. Nc6 Rxa3 34.
Rxa3 Rxa3 35. Rb1 Bf5 36. Rc1 Be4 37. Nd4 g5 38. Ne6 h4 39. Nxg5 hxg3 40. Nxe4
gxh2+ 41. Kxh2 Ra4 42. Ng3 Rh4+ 43. Kg2 1-0


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