1. e4 c5 I've been doing ok against this lately by playing boringly (no gambits) - so 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 a6 That's a bit of a surprise. Stops my bishop going to b5, but I wasn't going to do that anyway. 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 I thought about f4 here, followed by e5, but not convinced it works. 6. Bc4 Nc6 That's a good move. If I retreat he's got the initiative, but if I swap he's got a potential big pawn centre. I prefer to keep the initiative. 7. Nxc6 bxc6 I am looking at things like e5 de, Bxf7ch KxB, QxQ, but what if he just goes d4 instead of taking? 8. O-O e6 This looks feeble, so attack! 9. e5 Nd5 Hadn't seen that. I just looked at de, QxQ, KxQ and he can't castle; or Knight moves and ed. 10. exd6 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxd6 Qa5 and Qxc3 by him leaves this bishop in trouble, so get ready to sac on h7. 12. Bd3 Be5 He's hitting my c-pawn, but I don't like defending. This wayif he takes my pawn, I take his with check. The queen swap gives me an open file. 13. Be4 Qc7 Now he's hitting my c-pawn and h-pawn. I can let him have the h-pawn because of Kh1, then g3 trapping his bishop. Therefore protect my c-pawn and threaten his c-pawn. 14. Qf3 Bd7 He's still threatening h-pawn with check. I would have to go Kh1, then he retreats his bishop having won a pawn. Therefore, move king first, so g3 traps his bishop. 15. Kh1 Rb8 He's just playing by numbers. See an open file and grab it. I can't see what this does tactically. 16. Be3 My plan here is to let him take c-pawn with his bishop, then go Bf4. He has to reply Be5, then I swap that bishop and pick up his c-pawn, and my queen gets into his position. 16... O-O Damn! He must have seen all that. Does Qh5 work now? No. Does Bxh7 work? Not quite. Ok prepare first. 17. Bd4 c5 That's a nasty move, but I'll just make a bigger threat - mate! 18. Qh5 f5 Opponent shook his head a lot before his this kmove. I thought it was in despair, as my plan had been g6 by him, then Qxe5. He must have been shaking his head meaning my attack doesn't work. 19. Bxe5 Two bishops en prise, so what else? 19... Qxe5 Bishop en prise, so threaten his. 20. Rad1 Be8 Whoops! Now Q and B en prise. I could be in a bit of trouble. OK, keepe threatening things and soemthing might happen. 21. f4 Qxe4 I was losing that anyway. Got to save the Queen now, while keeping threats. 22. Qh4 Bc6 He's threatening mate in one, but that's cool, because Ican get a rook out. 23. Rf3 Qxc2 I think this next is my only move. 24. Rg1 Rb1 Even I was beginning to think this was looking a touch dicey. I almost resigned. Glad I didn't though. 25. Rg3 By this stage, my opponent started shaking, so I knew I was ok. I might even win. 25... Rxg1+ 26. Kxg1 Qd1+ 27. Kf2 This is where everyone says he missed a mate in two. Maybe Qd2ch, Kf1 Bb5ch Kg1 Qe1 mate. It's a mate in 3, but so what? It ain't over till it's over. 27... g6 I've been trying to get the rook sac in for some time, but not quite yet. 28. Qh6 he was really shaking now. I wonder if he's heard of me? As I walked off for a fag, I heard someone in the crowd mutter something about mate. 28... Rd8 Rb8 would've won, or the mate that he still has. However, it was Tartakover who said "Whoever makes the last mistake loses." Quite a crowd had gathered by now. I now spent ages looking for a checkmate for me, but couldn't see it, so I baled out for a perpetual. 29. Rxg6+ hxg6 30. Qxg6+ Kf8 31. Qf6+ At this point I offered a draw. My opponent studied it for ages, but eventually agreed. All I do is move my queen alomng the 6th rank, giving check and there's nothing he can do. I was disappointed not to win. 1/2-1/2