Slightly unexpected though this move is probably objectively better than what I did expect. Well, actually, my first thought was simply ... erm ... to simplify by 13...Qxe2ch 14.Qxe2 Bxe2 15.Kxe2 0-0-0 (say) and Black wins with his extra Knight. But a second look indicated 13...Qe4! 14.Rf1 [not 14.0-0 - legal move though it is - on account of 14...Bc5ch etc] Bh3 15.Rf4 Qh1ch 16.Kf2 Bc4ch 17.Nd4 Qxh2ch etc. White's position looks in this line as though it is being savaged by a Great Black Shark... I reckon I would have preferred that to 13...0-0-0.

I think Ion is right here; 13....Qe4! may actually be stronger. However, I recall having wanted one more heavy piece to contribute to the attack, and Qe4 comes next anyway. The suggested simplification is, of course, correct - but ohh soooo dull  

It does give the rook an alternative escape route if it is attacked.

or the chance to add another defender to e2

At least you had this option. Any rook move - including castling - on the back rank got axed.

Very interesting position, so I made a computer analysis with Fritz8 and He's recommending 15...Nh6!, adding another piece out on the board to use in the attack. If white tries to regain his lost piece with 16. hxg4, black answers with Nxg4 hitting the rook and at the same time the f2 square, and if white doesn't want to lose material once more, he'll be forced to leave the 2nd rank with his rook. In this case, the best rook move is Rh4 (The best move for white overall is Bg5 followed by ...Rxd1+ !!!) and this sequence follows: 17...Lc5!!!(cutting of all chances for white to escape the attack.) 18. c3 18...Qf3! and white has no defense. The best is to give up the queen with Be3. Everthing else will be checkmate in 5 or less, for example: 19. Qb3 19...Qf2+ 20. Kd1 20... Ne3+ 21. Kc1 21...Qf1+ 22. Be1 22... Qxe1+ 23. Qd1 23... R/Qxd1# (mate)

  Fine imagery, right down to the circling motion as it moves in...

Actually, things seem more to have coagulated... like a blood clot, slowing down and cutting off the circulation. This picture reminds me of the poor Austrian foot at the Battle of Mollwitz in 1741 - the lines turning into columns as the inexperienced infantry tried to hide behind each other from the murderously disciplined incoming Prussian musketry.

I thought of 18...bg1 winning an exchange, but this simply wins a piece (and probably a lot more...)

No, he wouldn't because if Qb1, ...Bxe2+ wins! The bishop can't be taken (Rxe2 Qh1#!) and after Ke1 there's: ...Qf3, Qf5+ ...Qxf5, Rxe2 ...Qd3, Rxe3 ...Qxe3+, Kf1 ...Qf2#. (Of course there's more moves available instead of Rxe3 but they all lead to the same result.)

Instead of 20...Rxd2, I think I would have tried 20...Bxe2ch. The capture is forced: [A] 21.Rxe2 Qh1#; [B] 21.Qxe2 Rxe2 22.Kxe2 {22.Rxe2 Qh1#} 22... Bg1ch and pick up the Rook at h2.

ionadowman is right, Bxe2+ is the best continuation as I mentioned on "20. Qe1". The only difference is the queen is more actively placed on e1 than b1, but white is still completely lost. Rxe2 also wins, therefore Rxb2 doesn't make much sence to me.

As you were...

short and sweet, nice try/? maybe...

We all of us have had disasters like this, and sometimes been on the good end of our opponents' disasters. An entertaining game, and, I think, one that a lot can be learnt from.

Good try, but the rating difference just proved too big to overcome. Having played a dubious opening, one minor oversight (8.Bc4?!) just cost White the game.

Does this mean that the Halloween gambit is dead!! I sure hope so. In the end I hope you try to stick with well established lines. I had this lesson beat into me through massive and hurtful losses at tournaments. Playing off beat unusual lines rarely pay dividends. As a growing chess player stay to the main lines. As the current theory stands now the main line Alekhine defense gives white an almost winning advantage coming out the opening.

Elyhim's last sentence is interesting. However, I think the emphasis must be on the word "almost". In my opinion the Alekhine defense is water-tight but requires a lot of patience and careful planning, perhaps more than in many other openings. In this sense I would compare it to the French defense, which is also not recommendable for the "fast gun", but rather for a Botvinnik-like player. These are only spontaneous thoughts. Comments? Now, I have suggested to Freddy to bring Elyhim into the Moderator group, where he should be, considering his strength. But, before that happens, I cannot refrain from challenging him (Elyhim) to a WTW game where I'll play black using Alekhine's defense.