1. e4 d5 OK, I know this. I play it myself. 2. exd5 c6 What's this? I've never seen that move before. Either there's a devious line I've never seen before or he's a plonker. Free pawns? Take 'em every time! 3. dxc6 Nxc6 OK, now just develop, hang on to the pawn, and I've won. 4. Nf3 Bg4 I want to control the centre. 5. c3 e6 That destroys any chance of crashing into f7. Carry on with the 'plan'. 6. d4 Nf6 7. Bb5 I've got a good chance of isolating his remaining q-side pawns here. 7... Rc8 8. Bf4 Bd6 9. Bxd6 No choice really. 9... Qxd6 He can castle now, but I'd like to get my Q out to the q-side, relieving the pin and attacking those pawns. 10. Nbd2 O-O Now he's castled I want to attack his king. If he replies Bf5 to my next move, I can play Bd3 11. Qc2 Oh no! I've just noticed he can get his pawn back by Nxd4. I really must try to spot these things before they happen. Keeep a straight face....keep a straight face. 11... Bf5 Phew! He didn't spot it, but I can't stick my bishop in between now. He won't miss it twice. 12. Qb3 I'm threatening BxN. If he takes back with the P, it becomes isolated. With the R, I get a pawn, with the Q, I hit it with my knight. 12... a6 13. Bxc6 Rxc6 I can't get that pawn because of Rb8. I was planning Qxa6, but it's covered. 14. Ne5 Rb6 Getting a bit awkward now. 15. Qa3 Qd5 Got to stop the attack on g2. I could castle k-side, but it looks a bit vulnerable. I don't want to play f3 because it takes away a square from my knight. 16. Ndf3 Qe4+ Oh crap! 17. Kf1 Qc2 He's hitting the b-pawn, threatening check with the bishop, also Ne4. I'm practically dead. Only two knights in play. 18. Ne1 Qd2 Still mega problems. Must try to save pawn and get Q into play. It looks like I can fork Q and R, but it doesn't work. e.g. Nc4 Bd3ch, Nxd3 Qxd3 ch, followed by Qxc4 19. b4 Ne4 20. N1d3 Believe it or not, I had planned this as my defence, though I was going to use the other knight. 20... Nxc3 He's got his pawn back and threatening to win a piece. 21. Ne1 Qxd4 Now a pawn down, 1 piece out of play. Must make counter-threats. 22. Rc1 Nd5 A couple of moves ago, my opponent said it was getting too complicated for him. That encouraged me. For the first time for ages, he hasn't got a mating threat. I slam the next move down and go for a fag. I have no idea if the moves any good, but I've just got to hit back somehow. 23. Nd7 Ne3+ I come back, and this is what he played. I've got 3 possible replies. Luckily, the move I make skewers his Q to R. 24. Qxe3 Qxd7 25. Qxb6 Phew! Now if I can get my other rook moving I should win. Mind you, in an open position with Q's about, it won't be easy. 25... Rd8 I look at all sorts of things here, but getting tired, so play safe. 26. Qe3 Qb5+ 27. Kg1 Qxb4 See what I mean? There goes another pawn. I've got to try to get my pieces active, and swap queens if possible. 28. h3 Qb2 I don't see how I can save the a-pawn, so make a bigger threat. 29. g4 Bg6 30. Qc3 Qxa2 Hmm. Three pawns down for a rook, and it's locked in the corner. It ain't over yet. 31. Rh2 Qd5 I had seen that, which was why I didn't play Qc8. I'm just going to try to stay out of check and gradually get stuff moving. 32. f3 h5 33. Ng2 Qb5 34. Nf4 I was worried about ..Rd1, Rxd1 Qa4 but it seems ok. 34... Qb6+ 35. Rf2 Yayy! Got my rook out! 35... hxg4 36. hxg4 Bh7 37. Nh5 Let's go for mate. 37... f6 38. g5 Rd3 39. Qc7 Rd1+ He's getting desperate now. Obviously i don't take the rook. 40. Kg2 it was getting late, so I said I wanted to seal my next move. 40... Qxc7 He said he did this so he'd know my sealed move. However a deal was done by the captains which awarded me a win. A really good battle. Mr Carter you are not a plonker. I held on by the skin of my teeth. 1-0