Pls analyze my game

Move 17 the suggested move by the engine lets the equity plummet by 5 pts

Also looking for general advice on how to defend against an attack like that or create counter play
Tyvm

You had to play ng4 on move 16 to kick out the queen. Try to play a less passive opening. Re8 is bad because it stops helping defend f7, but you were lost by that time anyway. 18 nc5 does nothing to help defend against fxe5 followed by rxf6 and qxh7 and a mating attack to follow.

In general, you played to passive and let his queen knight and f pawn break be too strong.

You created too many weaknesses in the opening. The combination of e6, g6 and c5 just creates too many holes on the dark squares. White could have played an early e5 and exploited this. With the e6, c5 pawn-setup you absolutely have to be aiming for playing d5! For example at move 4 white played g3? The thrust 4... d5 equalizes right away.

E.G:
4. ... d5
5. e5 Nfd7
6. cd5 ed5
7. f4 Nc6! (now on Nxd5, Ndxe5! and black is better)
8. Nf3 Nb6
And black is fine here.

AT THE TIME YOUR OPPONENT PLAYED A3 YOU SHOULHAVE PLAYED ND4 CENTRALISING THE KNIGHT INSTEAD OF A5

Thanks for all your replies, much appreciated! <3

When you play e6-c5 you don't want to play g6. #13 you gave your e5 pawn for b4 pawn. That's a bad trade. Always value more central pawns! #15 You didn't have to trade bishops and invite whites queen into the attack.

I agree with everything @RoadTo1201 said EXCEPT their first point about the e6-c5. If you're going the g6 route, don't play e5. Besides that, everything he said was correct, especially the one about trading bishops. You should wait for him to capture.

I agree with everything @RoadTo1201 said EXCEPT their first point about the e6-c5. If you're going the g6 route, don't play e5. Besides that, everything he said was correct, especially the one about trading bishops. You should wait for him to capture. Also, Ng4 on move 16 is necessary if you want to survive. You still would've been in a good position.

10. ...e5 stands out to me. You're badly blocking yourself up with this move; your dark bishop has nowhere to go, and your c knight has lost a square. The pawn is currently under attack by White's f knight, which means the c knight can't move until you defend the pawn, which means your light bishop is also blocked up for at least two more moves. You're also losing your best way to keep white's knight out of d5. And e5 isn't contributing to any attacks, really; d4 was already protected, and you can't reach f4.

I would probably say to play 10. ...d5 instead; force some trades, break the position open a bit, get your light bishop aimed at white's king position. You might also be able to get away with 10. ...Ng4, opening your dark bishop while harassing white's and allowing Nge5. But you need to be opening your attack pieces up here, all your pieces are too cramped to win.

Could have stopped the attack with 20. ...Nxg5, that knight needed to die. The pawn can't actually threaten checkmate, it's too slow, the knight is still the bigger problem.

Last chance to survive the attack was 24. ...Bf5, blocking the rook. Your queen is a defensive miracle worker here, white has no good way past her.