With intuition, f3 is good, followed by a long castle. Then g4 is made possible, and all is prepared, all pieces are developed and can be employed to target your enemy king side. I also believe that blacks are delaying Nd7 in order to play Bg7 to avoid NxB+. The task of whites is to remain calm though. Blacks white bishop is strong for defense.

Blacks was all doing that in order to win this small pawn ?? Unbelievable. He lost his defenses he made it possible for white to consider the Bxg6 sacrifice and moreover he opened a dangerous line, the f line which can be exploited by white rooks. Really really bad choice.

Black is close to being on the money, here. Black would have a very fine game, but for 18.Bxg6!! The alternatives: [A] 18...hxg6 19.Qxg6ch Kh8 {19...Kf8 20.Rhf1} 20.Rd3 Bh4 21.Rh3 with 22.g3 to come; [B] 18...Rxe2 19.Bxh7ch Kg7 20.Qxe2 Kxh7 21.Qh5ch; [C] 18...Qe7 19.Bf5 Rf8 20.g4 The last of these seems best for Black, with a game too close to call.

I also regard 18.g3 as to be not a powerful one. I don't know why it was played, what is the goal behind. I could have imagined f3 for instance. Finally I would have taken my time thinking in my head to where can lead the following sacrifice : 18. Bxg6 : 18..hxg6 19. Qxg6+ followed by Rd3 if Kh8 or Rf1 if Kf8. Now g3 is blocking the thing.

The right move was 18...Qf8, with just about exclusive control of the f-file. The move played, though not as good, doesn't look too bad though.

Because he let the f-rank open to your rooks.

I reckoned this is as good as Black has, but a look further into the position suggests otherwise. Black might have been better off playing ....Nh7 at once.

No: 22...Ne4 led to a quick kill: 23.Qh5ch Kg8 24.Rf7 and there is no reasonable defence against the mate.