Because of 8. ...Bxf3 9. Qxf3 (gxf is ugly, but why not?) Qxd4,I would have prefer 8.Be2

Considering that both side are not developped yet, it seems to me that this big space is rather weak. But if d5 is not play now, then e6 would prevent it and give black the better game. So : d5!

After d6, black knight goes to d7 (otherwise 16. d7), then how to develop black kingside ? Ng5, Bh7, g6, Bg7, 0-0 is quite long. But black can attack the queenside with a pawn storm, and the support of Bg6, Q and R. I'm not sure either what is better.

White can set up a bind by 15.d6 that will be very hard for Black to break e.g. 15.d6 Nd7!? 16.Nh4 (Nxe5?! 17.Nxg6! Nxg6 18.d7+ etc). But White's game after 15.dxe6 seems at least as strong, if not stronger.

You offered a (Choke! Gasp!) draw in this position?? White has all the play here, and all the chances. This is where you put the boot in...

18. Bg2 reither than Bd3 prevents the fork and threatens the a8 rook. What about 19. Ne4, aiming at d6 ?

Somehow this has gone a little bit wrong for White. Instead of 19.f5? maybe 19.Ne4 would have been the caper. Black cannot play 19...Bxd4 [20.Nd6+] and pretty much has to play 19...Be7. White would certainly then have to look to the c-file (for all White's advantage, this game ain't what you'd call uncomplicated!). Probably 20.Qc2 c5!? 21.Nd6+! Bxd6 22.exd6 Nd7 23.Nf3 c4 24.Be4 Rb8 25.Ba7 and White has the better of it.

Interesting was 21.Ne4!? threatening the K/Q fork at d6. 21...cxd4+ 22.Bc2. Here's a taster: 22...Qc6 23.Nc6+ Ke7 24.Qb4 a5!? 25.f6+! gxf6?? 26.Nf5+! Kd8 27.Qe7+ Kc8 28.Nd6+ and wins the Black Q. Of course Black can improve, but can he improve enough to see off White's attack? Meanwhile, the move played also has its points...

Maintaining the pin by 25.Qa4 might be a slight improvement. Can't say i like White's game so much as I did. Maybe some alternative to 23.fxe6?! needs to be looked at - 23.Be3 or Bf2, say.

But in fact this is great for White! Black should play, simply 29...Re8 and if 30.Bxc5 Ngxe5 and Black's game looks OK.

A direct consequence of Black's mistimed offer to exchange Queens. Obviously an oversight.

Well played so far. I suggest 32. Bxc5 attacking all minor pieces.

[A] If 32.Red1 Nbc4! 33.Rxe6 Nxe3 34.Rxe5 Nxd1 etc. [B] if 32.Bxc5 Nbc4 33.Rxe6 Nd3+ 34.Kc2 Nxc5 35.Rc6 Rf2+, after which none of White's available K moves are safe. Hence 36.Re2 would be forced and the game might continue with Black still trying to hang on to his extra knight: 36...Ne3+ 37.Kd2 Nf1 38.Ke1? [38.Kc2! Rxe2 =/+] Nd3+ 39.Kd1 Nxb2+ -/+.

Somewhat counterintuitively, White could have tried 33.Kb1 with the idea 33...Nxe1 34.Bxc5!