Comes back to my question earlier. Would it have been better to have played ...c5 earlier, ...then maybe white's d-pawn is no longer in the game to be advancing like this? Black's c-pawn might also be gone. But maybe that is the better scenario. What does this preserved c-pawn do from here on out? It IS now controlling d4. But that may not be a problem for white at this point in the game.

Appreciated Todd but at this point it was s*** or bust. I was planning to swap my knight for 3 pawns and try to limp to an ending with three pawns for the piece. I hadn't realised I left the black squares so pathetically weak at the end of the combination (moves 12-14).- Snowman.

A blunder which starts the carnage to follow better was Nbd7 carrying on with dev

This is the first big blunder since the opening (d5 and Qxd5), better was Nbd7, bringing out all your pieces to defend. Remember that if you couldn't win in the opening, then you should defend yourself until white makes a mistake/blunder so you can counter-attack.

after Nbd7 I was worried about e5 and after Ne8...e6...but I must admit it is far better that what I played.

Creative to find a way to get rid of those central pawns and equalize. But I think a key thing here is that in letting the Bishop go, h6 and f6 are now weakened. Those squares now need to be monitored closely. Probably better to keep the bishop and deal with that d-pawn in some other way.

Yes you're right Todd. If I could have my time over again...... The Snowman

13. ..Bxb2 - leaves the K defense squares weak. This is then compounded by allowing the taking of the B. It should have returned to the fianchetto and restored the strength there. Also instead of Bxd5 it is better to play Qxd5 when after Q exchange black is left with a strong B on the long diagonal threatening the N

you should have save the black bishop. Instead of 13. Bxb2 plays Bx5 or Qxd5

Look at White's centralised pieces! Black's explosive solution to the problem has certainly transformed the game. I'd be seriously worried about the weakened dark squares, though.

Wow! That was fast. Is there nothing the f-pawn can do to hold back white's queen? ...not that white does not have plenty of other tools bearing down. Oh, if 17. ...Re8 18. Qa1 f6, then 19. Bc4+ and black loses the bishop. So, yes, I think black needed to play 14. ...Bg7 to stay in the game and that 14. ...Bxd5 is what led to trouble (with 1. ...d5 contributing). Good game. Very instructional. Excellent annotation Snowman!

Thanks for your comments Todd. It was embarrassingly swift. "....In one hand the Scales of Justice...in the other the Sword of Retribution!" I consider myself well and truly smashed into oblivion! Well done Pete, I hope to last a little longer next game! - The Snowman.

If now 17...Re8, 18.Qa1 or 18.Bc4 win at once. If 17...Nc6 (willing to concede the Exchange for survival), White ignores the offer and plays 18.Qa1 anyhow. Horrors. A salutary example of what can happen when highly mobile pieces have a colour complex weakness to play with!

hitting the weakened fianchetto and threatening Qa1. Overall allowing white to take early control of the centre by not developing left black struggling. However the real game loser was allowing the B to be removed from the fianchetto leaving a massive weakness.