Blunders not a beginner's prerogative

The amateur and the beginner might often wonder whether the Chess Masters are prone to inaccuracies and blunders at times? Some games may well be flawless, perfectly executed where the slightest mistake will suffice to clinch victory. However, blunders are not the prerogative of beginners and sometimes there can be more than one blunder in a chess game.

The game which follows is a good example where one comes across many blunders before White completes the formalities. Incidentally, both White and Black are strangely erratic in the last stages.

White: Francesco Sanz Alonso(2435) – Black: Vladimir Lazarev (2501)
Elgoibar , 1999
Sicilian Defence

1.e4 c5
The Sicilian Defence
2.Nf3Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 5.Nc3 e6 6.f4
The Sicilian f4 which is sharp play by White
6. ..Nxd4. Preferring to exchange the knights. If 6...a6 Nxc6
7.Qxd4 a68.Be3 . White can also look at 8.Be2
8...b59.Be2
Also playable is 9.Bd3
9...Bb710.Bf3
If 10.0–0Rc8 11.Rad1 Nf6 12.Bf3 Be7 13.e5 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nh5 15.Ne4 f5 16.Nd6+ Bxd6 was played in a previous game
10...Rc811.Rd1
If 11.0–0h5 12.h3 h4 13.Rad1 Nf6 14.Rf2  
11...h5
Black could have also tried to play on the queen side with 11. ..b4  12.Na4 Nf6
12.Rd2. White uncorks a novelty here. However, the most obvious appearing move here is for White to castle

12...Nf613.h3 h4
Black could have still looked at 13. ..b4 14.Na4 d515.exd5 Bxd5
14.0–0Be7
If 14...Bc515.Qxc5 Qxc5 16.Bxc5 Rxc5 17.e5 Bxf3 18.Rxf3 b4 19.Na4 Rd5 20.Rfd3 Rxd3 21.Rxd3Nd5 with an unclear position
15.e5Bxf3. If 15...Nh516.Bxh5 Rxh5 17.Rfd1 Bc6 with a balanced game
16.Rxf3 b4. Finally he plays b4 but now better appears 16...Nh5 17.Ne4
17.exf6bxc3 18.fxg7 Rg8 19.bxc3 f5. Black could have posted his rook on the open file with 19. ..Rb8. Also worth a look is 19...f6And if 19...d5 20.f5
20.Bf2 Qc6. If 20...d521.Re3
21.c4. If 21.Rfd3d5 22.Re2 Kf7
21...Rc722.Qe5. Trying to cover more and more ground and infiltrate into enemy territory If 22.Rb3Qxc4 23.Rb8+ Kf7 24.Qxc4 Rxc4 25.Rxg8 Kxg8 26.Rxd7 Bf6
22...Qxc423.Bd4. White could have continued the attack with 23.Rb3
23...Bc5. Wanting to exchange the vital bishop. If 23...Bb4 24.c3 is better forWhite
24.Qf6.
Once again White had a better move in 24.Rb3
24...Bxd4+25.Rxd4 Qxa2. The Queen strays and now is far away from defending the King

Diagram 1

26.Rb4. A blunder? White had quite a few choices now like 26.Rb3 which wins. He can also look at 26.c4 And if 26.Rb3 Qxc2
27.Rb8+ Rc8 And if 26.Rxd7 Rxd7 27.Rb3 Qxb3 28.cxb3 Rdxg729.Qxe6+ Kd8 will lead to equality. However, with the text move there is a possibility of Black hanging onto the game.
26...Qxc227.Qg6+. If 27.Rb8+Rc8
27...Ke728.Kh2 Qd2 29.Qh7 Kf7
Black missed 29. ..Rc2
30.Rb8Rxg7. If 30...Rxb831.g8Q+
31.Qh5+Rg6 32.Qh7+ Rg7 33.Qh5+ Ke7
Black can repeat with 33...Rg6
34.Qe8+Kd6. Another blunder by Black. He could have tried to draw with  34...Kf6 35.Qf8+ (35.Qd8+ Kf7)35...Kg6 36.Qe8+ Kf6
35.Qf8+Re7 36.Re8+- Rc2 37.Qxe7+ Kc6 38.Rc8+ Kb7 39.Rxc2 1–0

Diagram 2
Black to play and win
1.. Bxf22.Qxc8
If2.Bxf2 RxQc2
2. ..Nxg3+3.Kg2 Nf4+ 4.Kxf2 Qxh2+