Your sequence of moves aren't right. 21 Re8 Rxe8 22 Qxe8+ Qd8 23 Qxf7 with pawn up (two, soon) and more activity (attack g7-pawn, I don't see defence, if 23 ... Qd7 24 Qf8+ Qd8 25 Qxg7 else 23 ... g6 24 Qxh7). But black isn't forced to take the rook in move 21. Black can continued with 21 ... c6 and white must choice 22 Rxd8 ( I see equality) or retire the rook. Your move, gaining space in the kingside, sound a better choice, but now g3 is weak. May be, 21 Re5, dominating the column and the center!

Black can also answer c6 (to Re8), avoiding mayor loss.

This was my first annotation, and the sequence stuff confused me, but I think I got the hang of it and fixed it. Thanks alejandro!

Yes, this position is pretty level. White rook is more active than black's. I don't see the point of h4. Re4 - keeping pressure on d4 seems good to me, or maybe 21 Re8 c6 first, provoking weak dark squares around the white king.

21.h4?? is a terrible mistake that spoils White's very good play up to this point. I don't go a bundle on 21.Re8?! though Black would be extremely unwise to reply 21...Rxe8 on account of 22.Qxe8ch Qd8 23.Qxf7 Qh8 24.f5 and what looks to me like a very favourable Queen ending. Instead, 21.Qb4 with 22.Qe7 in mind might be worth a look.

Black returned the compliment with 21...c6?? Instead, 21....Qg6! attacked both d3 and g3, which can not both be defended in one move. Nor would 22.Re8 have helped any: Black would simply ignore the rook.

Ya

I think this is defendable for black

But White certainly has the initiative right now, and hence the better chances.

Agree with both

This is a weak move that achieves nothing. Instead, black has to try for counterplay. Maybe something like Qf5, threatening to invade on either d3, while defending c5, for example. White's attack isn't overpowering yet; I think black has time for the counter.

If Qf5, then c4-c5 threatening mate seems strong

Possible Black thought he had time to lame White's K-side pawns. He didn't, of course. What follows is a very fine mating attack with the major pieces.

I don't know why

Much nastier was c5. After it, this is checkmate. Black can defend with b6, but white mates in few moves.

If instead of Rc8+, white plays c4-c5, then black can defend with Rd8

I believe Black has chosen the right course.

Instead of 27.Qc5ch, 27.c5 would have closed the game out, but for 27...b5!

This allows black's king an escape route. Though white can cut it off with 29. b4.

Again, c5 was the move. Not Qc5+, Kb7, more or less safely.

I figured that out and changed the comment.

29.c5 looks pretty terminal, here, closing down Black's escape hatch. However, it seems this rook check leads to a forced mate, so one ought not to be over critical!

Not bad, and certainly winning, but Black had a forced mate here - and rather a nice one: 30.c5ch! Ka5 31.b4ch Ka4 32.Kb2!! -(sealing off Black's escape tunnel and threatening 33.Rxa6#)- 32...Ra7 33.Rxa7 ... and there is no stopping 34.Rxa6ch and mate (e.g. 33...Qd8 and Black can choose between 34.Qxd8 or 34.Rxa6ch! Qa5 35.Rxa5# - as tightly entombed a Black King as you are ever likely to see.

Isn't b4 another forced checkmate

Thanks for the annotated game. Too bad black resigned, I'd be curious to have seen the game proceed with black queen e7 which should have broken up the attack and also threatened e1 for what would get quite uncomfortable for white. There may be a perpetual check in there (draw), or even maybe a win for black after removing some of those white pawns and has the black pawn on d4 for support. Or if white counters the move black queen e7 with white queen d8+, likely a trade would follow and then a race to destroy pawns with one rook apiece.

If 31 ... Qe7 32 c5 mates. Else, better defence was 31 ... bxc4 32 dxc4 with similar threat, but now black has b5 square. I see mate for the white with 32 ... Qe7 33 Rxa6+ Kxa6 34 Qa8+ Ra7 35 Qxc6++ or 34 ... Kb6 35 Qa5++. If black defends c6 with the queen over 6-rank, for example, 32 ... Qe6 white can win with a long mate 33 c5+ Kb5 34 Qxb7+ Ka4 35 Qxa6+ Kb3 36 Qa4+ Kc3 37 Qc2++. You play well the endgame, Nice finish!

White fell down in position early, regained the lead with good middle game play (capitalizing on many of blacks mistakes), and won in the end. Well done.

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

alejandro83 your first mate is correct gameknot.com but your second is not, as after bxc4 32 dxc4 Qe6 33 c5+ Kb5 34 Qxb7+white has 34...Kc4 and there is no quick mate, but a rook up, white is clearly winning. Here is another mate inspired by the final position. gameknot.com This position is clearly lost for black.

Such is the strength of White's pressure here, that Black must at the very least give up his rook. A fine game by White, who certainly played way above his 1087 rating. Good annotation too - one of the best I've seen at this level: 4 stars, for mine.

well played by white great annotation!

What I thought

GG