Help me analyze this game I lost

Hi everyone! This is my first time posting something in the forum, so I am sorry if I did anything incorrectly. About an hour ago I got crushed in this rapid game against a stronger player. However, I feel like it's a very instructive one to learn from, and the endgame in particular was among the most interesting I've seen lately.

Aside from not pushing f5 sooner to prevent e4-e5 in time trouble, what could I have done earlier on in the game to not fall on the defensive so quickly? What would have been a better opening setup or middle game strategy?

I would appreciate it if anyone (especially stronger players) could weigh in.

@mooshi_magooshi How about creating a study in which you note down all your thoughts on the game? Then we can give you more useful tips – and, above all, there will be no ‘oh, I had thought of that, I just didn't mention it’.

Your decisive mistake was 36... c2?. You had to play 36...f6 to prevent e4 e5. After 36...c2? your rook Ra2 no longer can capture pawns f2 or h2 . After 36...f6 he can take your pawn 27 Nxe6+ but then you can activate your king 27...Ke8. You still had 3 minutes. You spent only 2.6 seconds on this decisive mistake.

I m not stronger player , than You, BUT I suggest 2 main points are letting c pawn invade deep into your space and moving 19 Na5 which allowed to break pawn structure and lost pawns. That's not mistake for engines, they may hold this position, but for Us humans that pressure is felt
So I would 1) not take pawn on 4 th move, and keep that bishop tension , hoping to come out with him later by taking pawn or the other way and 2) keep tension by not moving knight on 19 move too
Sometimes sneaky moves are worth realizing , even if they aren't mistake, but useful tension makes difference

@mooshi_magooshi said ^

Hi everyone! This is my first time posting something in the forum, so I am sorry if I did anything incorrectly. About an hour ago I got crushed in this rapid game against a stronger player. However, I feel like it's a very instructive one to learn from, and the endgame in particular was among the most interesting I've seen lately.

https://lichess.org/xd6u8ta5/black#0

Aside from not pushing f5 sooner to prevent e4-e5 in time trouble, what could I have done earlier on in the game to not fall on the defensive so quickly? What would have been a better opening setup or middle game strategy?

I would appreciate it if anyone (especially stronger players) could weigh in.

Black square weaknesses

So i don't believe in a6

"1) not take pawn on 4 th move" * 4...cxd4 is a good move.
"2) keep tension by not moving knight on 19 move" * 19...Na5 is not bad: white was already winning.

8...Bb6? was a mistake: the bishop will be out of play after 9 c5. Better 8...Be7.

15...b5? was a mistake: it leaves a hole on c5 for his knight. The idea to fianchetto the bishop was right, but you had to play 15...b6 to keep an eye on square c5.

35...c3? was a mistake: the pawn cannot queen as his king blocks it. You had to play 35...f5 to prevent e4. He can take your pawn Nxe6+, but then you can activate your king ...Ke8.

Just take a look at what the engine says...

@derkleineJo said ^

@mooshi_magooshi How about creating a study in which you note down all your thoughts on the game? Then we can give you more useful tips – and, above all, there will be no ‘oh, I had thought of that, I just didn't mention it’.

Sorry but I can't help myself from calling it:
but do you really think that you are in any kind of a position to give advice to someone rated 2100-2200ish?

If so , what exactly would your "feedback" consist of?

@mooshi_magooshi said ^

Hi everyone! This is my first time posting something in the forum, so I am sorry if I did anything incorrectly. About an hour ago I got crushed in this rapid game against a stronger player. However, I feel like it's a very instructive one to learn from, and the endgame in particular was among the most interesting I've seen lately.

https://lichess.org/xd6u8ta5/black#0

Aside from not pushing f5 sooner to prevent e4-e5 in time trouble, what could I have done earlier on in the game to not fall on the defensive so quickly? What would have been a better opening setup or middle game strategy?

I would appreciate it if anyone (especially stronger players) could weigh in.

Perhaps you should have not played Bc5 in the opening because it puts you in unnecessary complications. You could have done Be7 - 0-0 - Qc7 - d6 like a taimanov like structure. However, I had played this setup in one of my OTB games and it did not prove to be effective. So you should better analyze it thoroughly with engine for the setup you wanna chose. Later, b5 was obviously a mistake, because Nc5- you know it. Even at the last, that d6 pawn kept you engaged and anxious. That was why I never advise to play Bc5 at first place.

@slimeychesspoo said ^

@mooshi_magooshi How about creating a study in which you note down all your thoughts on the game? Then we can give you more useful tips – and, above all, there will be no ‘oh, I had thought of that, I just didn't mention it’.

Sorry but I can't help myself from calling it:
but do you really think that you are in any kind of a position to give advice to someone rated 2100-2200ish?

If so , what exactly would your "feedback" consist of?

You really need to be grounded when you talk to people on lichess. All the replies are appreciated, and you just can't oppress someone on the basis on elo. Some times, the key advice comes from the lesser known too.