1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 Aha, the Petroff! I played this once myself as black and got slaughtered, so I should be ok. 3. Nxe5 I think it's safe for white to take this, but not for black to retake. 3... d6 Now, should I play Nxf7 followed by Bc4 ch? With his knight there, I don't think I can quite work up a winning attack. (Nigel Short has played Nf7 in a couple of games - I think it's called the Cochrane Gambit - ed.) 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Now he could be in trouble. 5... Qe7 He thought for a long time about this I think it's probably the best move, though it probably leads to queen exchange, which a lot of people don't like. 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nc3 I think it's better if he exchanges queens, or tries not to, rather than me doing it. 7... Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 After the game, Don Curry on board 1 complained at how loudly I had smashed the pieces when I took this. But I thought I was now winning. 3 pieces to 1 developed! 8... Bd7 9. Bg5 I am looking at BxN, PxB, Nd5 winning a pawn. This is a deep combination for me. 9... Be7 If I do my plan now, he retakes with the bish and hits my b-pawn, so protect it. 10. O-O-O O-O My plan still works. 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nd5 Bd8 OK, I haven't won material, but rooks are connected, 3 pieces out to his one. I should be ok. Mind you, I've won plenty of games from his sort of position. 13. Rhe1 c6 14. Nc3 Na6 I suppose he's just trying to develop, but this gives me a chance to free my bishop. I had been more worried about Re8. 15. d4 Ba5 I don't mind having doubled pawns. 16. Bxa6 bxa6 17. Re7 Bg4 he's threatening to double two lots of my pawns, but he has to give up the bishop pair to do it, and my rooks are better. 18. Rd3 Rfe8 I'll let him make any exchanges. I've got nothing pinned any more. I was more worried about Be6, almost trapping my rook. 19. Rde3 Rxe7 20. Rxe7 Kf8 I could go Rb7, but it seems better to keep the open file if possible. 21. Re3 Re8 22. Ne4 The idea of this is to win a pawn, and possibly get some support for my d-pawn depending on what he does. I expected d5 immediately, but what he played will do. 22... Bxf3 23. gxf3 d5 24. Nc5 Rxe3 25. fxe3 All my pawns are unravelled, and he can't save the a pawn. His best chance might have been Bc7 then a5, but I'm sure I must get at least one pawn soon. 25... Bb6 26. Nxa6 Ke7 27. Kd2 h5 He's getting desperate. 28. Kd3 g5 I've been planning this next move for a while. It should fatally weaken his q-side pawns, giving me a counter to his k-side. I'm a bit worried that it will take my knight along time to get over to the k-side if necessary, but I think I'm ok for now. 29. c4 dxc4+ 30. Kxc4 f5 Clocks back 15 minutes. I have only used 22 so far, against my opponent's 55. Time to get the N moving. 31. Nb4 Kd6 32. Nd3 Ke6 Got to be careful. He can now go Bc7 hitting my h-pawn, and g4. I studied this for ages (about 30 seconds) to make sure I was safe. 33. h3 Kd6 34. Ne5 Threat Nf7ch, and if he moves towards his good pawns, maybe Nxc6, though I'd have to calculate to see if I could get back in time. Worry about it if it happens. 34... Kc7 35. b4 Plan is b5, at least exchanging pawns, and giving me a passed one. 35... a5 Can't take it, because it frees his bishop. Carry on regardless. 36. b5 cxb5+ 37. Kxb5 f4 That's a good move. I'm looking at taking it, then he takes my d pawn, then I take his g-pawn, he takes my knight, then race the pawns 38. exf4 Bxd4 Now it's within my event horizon (2 moves, usually), I can see the saving move. 39. Nd3 Be3 40. fxg5 Bxg5 I'm getting tired. I've now thought for 40 minutes against my opponent's 80. Still, this must be a win mustn't it? 41. Kxa5 Kb7 42. f4 Bd8+ My opponent's stopped writing his moves down., He must know he's losing. 43. Kb5 Ka7 44. f5 Bf6 45. a4 That was just to make sure his king stays over that side. I know it can be difficult to force a r-pawn through if the opponent's king is in front of it, so I need the freedom to attack the other side. 45... h4 46. Nc5 Opponent resigned. My next move would be Nd7 followed by f6, and he's got to sac the bishop for a pawn either immediately or a bit later. Then my N can pick up his last pawn, and it's all over. 1-0