... and leaves the c-pawn free to advance.

4...Ne4 is a very unusual move. The lead e-pawn might not be so easy to hold.

4. ...Nfd7 instead is the proper move here.

6 Ne2 seems too committal and retards development, compared with 6 c3.

6. Be3 and white should be winning.

Yes, but it also prevents black from playing Qa5, which is one the best weapons he has in the French. In fact, 8. ...Qa5 instead is probably best here. The position would have been roughly equal. Look at White's King. It is begging to be attacked.

At this point Black looks reasonably well placed, and still with potential for improvement.

I prefer 12 Rc1, threatening Bc4.

Dmaestro is correct. 12. Rc1 would be a much better move. However, b3 was interesting. Given the low rating that Joanne had at the time, Patrick probably was luring the Queen into a trap. **** 14. ... a5 was a mistake on Black's part. It allowed White's attack that did materialize.

White has managed to improve his position a lot in a brief time. But there was no need to panic. 16...g6 and, more, 17...f5 look very loosening. The knight check is very powerful, but the pawn capture "en passant" had its points too, leaving Black with weaknesses all over the place.

16 ...g5?! opens up lines of attack for white unnecessarilly. Simply 16...Be2 and then 0-0, defending the pinned knight as necessary, seems sufficient. Either Nxf6 or exf ep leaves white with a tremendous advantage.

17. Nh5 was a reciprocal mistake on White's part (trading mistakes). 17. d5 and White should have won easily. 17. ... f5 should have been a fatal mistake on Black's part. 18. Nf6+ was a very good move!! Why didn't he put her away at this point?

21.Bxg5 looks pretty deadly as well.

21. Bxg5 Qxd4 (not an experts move) 22. Nxh7 K-d7 or d8 23. R-d1 & wins Q so instead Q-(expert move) 22. Nxh7 K-d7 or d8 23. Nxf8 R or Qxf8

20 Bxc6 ?! seems weak. Simply 20 Qxg5, which also keeps the bishop on restricts Black's king, exposing the a4 to e8 diagonal if the knight moves seems more effective

21. Qxg5 maybe good enough to still win, but it is weak. White needs to get the bishop in on the attack as fast as possible. Ion is correct. 21. Bxg5 is not only deadly, it is the best move period.

I like the look of 20.d5, hoping to get the dsb into action. Actually scratch that, there's nothing good after the bishop check.

The queen exchange is not as strong as 26 Nf6! because Black's king position can be exploited. If then 26 ...BxP?, Qf7+ is deadly.

The Queen exchange is the big mistake by White. It basically ends most of the pressure on Black's King. 27. Qxe6 instead gives white two protected passed pawns and Black absolutely has no chance whatsoever.

here again, 28 Nf6! is better, controls d5 and puts a N on the 6th.

I think the knight would have too few targets on f6, and, after ...h5 (or ...h6 then ...h5), he would be completely movebound.

White compounds his mistakes. Because of his retreat, White only has a small advantage.

With Rg8 instead, you have a counter-attack against white.

Exactly why Nf6! was much better. Now Black exploits the counterplay.

In this game they might indeed. Black's bishop looks the better piece of the two, just right now... White has to face an unpleasant decision: let go the pawn, or let go the open file...

31 Nh5!? goes into a problematic ending. Better for white was 31 Rb1, with the plan to play Rb2, followed by Nf1 to Ne3, controlling c2 and threatening the bishop.

Hard ending for white to win now, with opposite colored bishops.