A loss that has left me speechless

[MJMcCready]

Please dont ask me how I throw this one away. I certainly started taking it easy once it became obvious I was bound to win. How did I go wrong? I am aware that Rowson said in The Seven Deadly Chess Sins that it is a critical mistake to interprete your positions are winning or won. It's better to seee your position as being better because it's so common to ease up when you think you've got it in the bag. I do but I don't think I did in this game. And I can't believe it's possible when you are so massively on top too. It just seemed so easy to win in so many ways, there was no way I could lose. Thoughts welcome. I cannot believe for the life of me that I didn't win it. A very strong contender for the most horrendous collapse I've ever been guilty of.[Event "Play against an engine"] [Site "Lucas Chess R 2.16a"] [Date "2024.12.25"] [White "Marcus"] [Black "Cinnamon 1.2c"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B23"] [TimeStart "2024.12.25 22:29:46"] [Opening "Sicilian Defence: Closed"] [Termination "Won on time"] [TimeEnd "2024.12.25 23:13:42"] [TimeControl "600+5"] [PlyCount "70"] 1.e4 {[%emt 00:00:4.22]}{[%clk 00:10:0.78]} c5 {[%clk 00:10:5.00]} 2.Nc3 {[%emt 00:00:2.33]}{[%clk 00:10:3.46]} e6 {[%emt 00:00:19.65]}{[%clk 00:09:50.35]} 3.f4 {[%emt 00:00:7.08]}{[%clk 00:10:1.37]} Nh6 {[%emt 00:00:12.19]}{[%clk 00:09:43.16]} 4.Nf3 {[%emt 00:00:11.07]}{[%clk 00:09:55.30]} Be7 {[%emt 00:00:12.04]}{[%clk 00:09:36.13]} 5.Bc4 {[%emt 00:00:30.94]}{[%clk 00:09:29.36]} b6 {[%emt 00:00:18.93]}{[%clk 00:09:22.20]} 6.d4 {[%emt 00:00:28.54]}{[%clk 00:09:5.82]} Ba6 {[%emt 00:00:18.58]}{[%clk 00:09:8.62]} 7.Nb5 {[%emt 00:00:53.66]}{[%clk 00:08:17.16]} f5 {[%emt 00:00:18.26]}{[%clk 00:08:55.35]} 8.Ne5 {[%emt 00:00:51.37]}{[%clk 00:07:30.78]} fxe4 {[%emt 00:00:17.92]}{[%clk 00:08:42.43]} 9.Qh5+ {[%emt 00:00:19.22]}{[%clk 00:07:16.56]} Kf8 {[%emt 00:00:17.59]}{[%clk 00:08:29.83]} 10.f5 {[%emt 00:00:45.49]}{[%clk 00:06:36.08]} Bxb5 {[%emt 00:00:17.27]}{[%clk 00:08:17.56]} 11.Bxh6 {[%emt 00:00:41.88]}{[%clk 00:05:59.20]} Qe8 {[%emt 00:00:16.97]}{[%clk 00:08:5.59]} 12.Bxg7+ {[%emt 00:03:43.60]}{[%clk 00:02:20.60]} Kxg7 {[%emt 00:00:16.68]}{[%clk 00:07:53.91]} 13.Qg4+ {[%emt 00:00:2.16]}{[%clk 00:02:23.44]} Kh6 {[%emt 00:00:16.38]}{[%clk 00:07:42.53]} 14.fxe6 {[%emt 00:04:31.33]}{[%clk 00:03:0.82]} Bxc4 {[%emt 00:00:16.10]}{[%clk 00:07:31.44]} 15.Nf7+ {[%emt 00:00:19.45]}{[%clk 00:02:46.37]} Qxf7 {[%emt 00:00:15.82]}{[%clk 00:07:20.61]} 16.exf7 {[%emt 00:00:12.25]}{[%clk 00:02:39.12]} cxd4 {[%emt 00:00:15.55]}{[%clk 00:07:10.07]} 17.Qxe4 {[%emt 00:00:35.37]}{[%clk 00:02:8.75]} Nc6 {[%emt 00:00:15.28]}{[%clk 00:06:59.79]} 18.Qf4+ {[%emt 00:01:21.44]}{[%clk 00:00:52.31]} Kg6 {[%emt 00:00:15.03]}{[%clk 00:06:49.76]} 19.h4 {[%emt 00:01:4.01]}{[%clk 00:04:56.86]} Rhf8 {[%emt 00:00:14.78]}{[%clk 00:06:39.98]} 20.h5+ {[%emt 00:00:9.12]}{[%clk 00:04:52.74]} Kg7 {[%emt 00:00:14.54]}{[%clk 00:06:30.45]} 21.h6+ {[%emt 00:00:33.16]}{[%clk 00:04:24.57]} Kh8 {[%emt 00:00:14.29]}{[%clk 00:06:21.16]} 22.Rh5 {[%emt 00:02:1.47]}{[%clk 00:02:28.10]} Bxf7 {[%emt 00:00:14.06]}{[%clk 00:06:12.10]} 23.Rf5 {[%emt 00:00:46.38]}{[%clk 00:01:46.73]} Bb4+ {[%emt 00:00:13.83]}{[%clk 00:06:3.26]} 24.c3 {[%emt 00:00:39.86]}{[%clk 00:01:11.87]} dxc3 {[%emt 00:00:13.62]}{[%clk 00:05:54.64]} 25.O-O-O {[%emt 00:01:1.13]}{[%clk 00:00:15.74]} Bg6 {[%emt 00:00:13.40]}{[%clk 00:05:46.25]} 26.Rf6 {[%emt 00:04:2.98]}{[%clk 00:01:21.04]} (26.g4) Be7 {[%emt 00:00:13.19]}{[%clk 00:05:38.06]} 27.Rxf8+ {[%emt 00:01:27.33]}{[%clk 00:05:2.03]} Rxf8 {[%emt 00:00:13.00]}{[%clk 00:05:30.06]} 28.Qe3 {[%emt 00:01:15.94]}{[%clk 00:03:51.08]} Rf2 {[%emt 00:00:12.78]}{[%clk 00:05:22.27]} 29.Qxf2 {[%emt 00:02:50.50]}{[%clk 00:01:5.59]} Bg5+ {[%emt 00:00:12.59]}{[%clk 00:05:14.69]} 30.Rd2 {[%emt 00:00:1.75]}{[%clk 00:01:8.84]} cxd2+ {[%emt 00:00:12.40]}{[%clk 00:05:7.29]} 31.Kd1 {[%emt 00:00:2.30]}{[%clk 00:01:11.53]} Bh5+ {[%emt 00:00:12.21]}{[%clk 00:05:0.07]} 32.Kc2 {[%emt 00:00:4.07]}{[%clk 00:01:12.47]} d1=Q+ {[%emt 00:00:59.28]}{[%clk 00:04:5.79]} 33.Kc3 {[%emt 00:00:5.45]}{[%clk 00:01:12.02]} Qc1+ {[%emt 00:00:53.74]}{[%clk 00:03:17.05]} 34.Kb3 {[%emt 00:00:25.07]}{[%clk 00:00:51.95]} Bd1+ {[%emt 00:00:23.04]}{[%clk 00:02:59.01]} 35.Ka3 {[%emt 00:00:16.37]}{[%clk 00:00:40.58]} Be7+ {[%emt 00:00:39.77]}{[%clk 00:02:24.25]}

[IM Jack Rudd]

My impression is that winning the queen was probably the wrong line in practice. If you just play the simple 14.Bxb5, you've regained the sacrificed material and the attack is still raging. This should be an easier win than the game line.

[MJMcCready]

Thank you for your comments, I am having a hard time figuring out where I am going well but perhaps this was to be expected as I redifined my approach and style completely.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

You were slightly unfortunate that 28...Rf2 was so strong (and that 25.O-O-O made things worse).

[MJMcCready]

It may well be the case that I am paying les attention to my moves once I have the advantage.

[Matt Mackenzie]

This is far from uncommon, if that makes you feel any better.