Time was, a lot of commentators would condemn this exchange as 'giving up the centre'. These days, as more has become known about the opening in general, opinion has moderated somewhat.

The move seems almost forced, if it is bad than so is 1... c6.

HOW MANY VACATIONS DID YOU TAKE DURING THIS GAME---dope/.

15...Qxb6 is not playable, of course.

Tempting seems 18.c4, though I can't see any follow-up better than the plan White has adopted. Maybe 18.c4 Ra5 19.f4 ... 20.Ne4 ; or 18.f4 Rf8 19.c4 Ra5 20.Ne4 might have strengthened White's game a little. Hard to say.

It also cuts across any plan by White to hit the d5-rook by c2-c4. It might also presage some sort of Q-side operation beginning with ...b6, giving Black room to bring some heavy pieces onto the a-file. For the moment, though, this last seems more a possibility than a realisable plan. Note that the pawn breaks by ...c5 and ...e5 are still possible. I don't like the way the d5-rook is shut in, though...

It is hard to know how to continue. This pawn move does threaten to win the trapped rook by Ne5-g4-e3. It wasn't feasible on account of the f-pawn being insufficiently protected, and also owing to the pawn-fork at f5. It is something for Black to be aware of, though. Pretty soon he'll have to think about exchanging off the last remaining minor pieces.

It was playable at once, but Black is hoping to induce White to retake with the f-pawn.

I agree that the other pawn capture was preferable, leading to a drawish-looking game. Now White will be left with a backward pawn on a semi-open file, a permanent weakness.

As Black, I would have been inclined to play 25...Rd5 instead of ...Qd7, leaving the Q free to probe for further weaknesses.

Maybe 28.Rc1 was worth a look, hoping to pick up the b-pawn. The trouble is, the obvious 28...Rxd3 in reply looks good enough for a Black advantage.

Very strong.

I'm not sure it makes all that much difference, given that eitther way, Black's response is the same.

Why does White lose a rook? Because after 31.Qxe6? Rc5+ 32.Kd2?? Qh2+ 33.Ke3 Qxg3+ 34.Ke2 Rc2+ 35.Rd2 Qg2+ etc. Actually the rook can be saved, but only at the cost of the major exchange: 32.Qc4 Rxc4+ 33.dxc4 bxc4.

Thank you for making it clear. Rook CAN be saved,only at a high cost.

I don't think Black had anything else available but to return the rook to d5. This would have allowed White to take on e6, but after 32...Rd5 33.Qxe6 Qg4 maybe Black will have retained some chances with the more active position.