Good game 

it is commonly said that the winner is the person who made the second to last mistake and that is certainly the case in this game.  You fought well and when he made the final blunder, you delivered the crushing blow.  Excellent!

A couple of thoughts...

- 6... g6 is not as common as e5, e6, or Ng4, but it doesn't leave Black any worse than these other moves.  BTW - I love the term "Draidorf" - ROFL!

- 8. Bc4 is a fine move.  I would prefer Qd2, but that is just a preference.

- 9... Nbd7 is not as common as Nc6, but in either case the position is equal.

- I would recommend 10. O-O instead of Qd2. Not that Qd2 is a mistake, but just a difference in strategy.  Take a look at it and see what you think. In either case, the position is still equal.

- 13... b5 is okay, but I think that if I were black I would play Be6 instead.  If he has the bishop pair, why not aim them both right at your king?! Plus, if white plays 14. g5 (as you did), black can play Nd7 and the bishop is already developed.

- I completely agree that 14... b4 was the better move.  In fact, it was the only good move for Black.  White has the advantage now.

- You are right that 16. h4 just gave away your advantage, but the line you give is not the best for black either. You should have played 16. Qa5, but I think a better line for black afterward is Ne5 17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Nxf7+ Kf8 19. Nxc8 Raxc8 20. f4 Nc4.  Of course, White still has the advantage, but not as much as in the line you give where Black captures the queen on a5.

- 16...Bb7?!?!  How nice of him to give you your advantage back. 16...e6 was necessary to keep the position equal.

- 18 exd5 was better (i.e.- 18. exd5 Re8 19. Bd4 Nf8 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. hxg6 fxg6 22. Nd4)  What do you think??

- 19... Nc4 is a mistake but the way to take advantage of it is not easy to see.  Best was 20.gxh7+ Kh8 21.Bd4 e5 22.Bf2 Qxg5+ 23. Kb1 followed with Rdf1.  Here you are up a pawn with a coordinated attack.

- 21... Bg7 - this move is ridiculous!  21...hxg7 and black gets his pawn back and has the initiative.

- 22. Rxh7 is the right capture, but the wrong piece! Better is gxh7+

- 23. Rxg7??  Really?!  What about gxf7+ when Kxh7 leads to mate in three!?

- 25.f4??  Black is clearly winning now.

- Actually, 27.Qxd4+ practically forces black to give the knight back with 27...Ne5. I would say that the position is at least back to equal.  Nxd4 is a clever move as well.  Good job.

- I like 30. Rh6 better. Qh3 is too easy to defend and black gets an advantage.

- 31... Kf7 is his final mistake and to took advantage of it perfectly.  However, Kf8 does hold for Black and this is why 30.Qh3 is inaccurate.  Your best move after 31...Kf8 is 32. Rh8 Nxd2+ 33. Qxd2 Qxh8 34.Qxd6+ and Rf7 still leaves black with a slight advantage.

I really enjoyed analyzing your game and hope we get to meet at a local tourney sometime.

Jeff

Nice job Dan. Way to sac pieces for the king, that's strong, gutsy play.

Good sharp game and way to be confident against a higher rated player!

Musiclife posted this comment in one of my groups.

I think 31...Kf8 does hold for black.  for instance.  32. Rh8 Nd2+! eg 33. Kb2 Rxc3 or 33. Qxd2 Qxh8.  So, 31...Kf8 32. Qf6+ seems like only way to continue but 32...Rf7 defends.  eg. 32...Rf7 33. Qd4 (reinstating the Rh8 threat) ...Qg7 34. Rh8+ Ke7

Other responses are similar, such as 31...Kf8 32. Qd4 Qg7

After looking at it some more I saw 

I was planning Qf6+ if Kf8 but the rest was cloudy.

31...Kf8 32. Qf6+ seems like only way to continue but 32...Rf7 defends.  33. Qd4 (reinstating the Rh8 threat) ...Qg7 34. Rh8+ Ke7 

Dont forget...

35.Qa7+ Ke6 (only move) 36. Re8+ Re7 37.f5+

...Ke5 wins material

37 ...gxf5 38.fxg5+ Kf7 loses to Qxe7# so 

3 moves.

Kxf5 39 Qf2+ not winning the rook?? bc Qb2#

.Kd5 maybe saves it for black.. not sure ...

Ke5 wins the rook with check not allowing Qb2#