1.e4
c5
2.c3
d5
3.exd5
Qxd5
4.d4
e6
The most solid move. Black locks in his light squared bishop and concentrates on getting his kingside mobilized. [4...Nf6
5.Nf3
Bg4
leads to more dynamic positions.]
5.Nf3
Nf6
6.Be3
cxd4
7.cxd4
Be7
8.Nc3
Qd8
It may seem odd to drop the queen back to her home square, but this is where she is safest. Other moves such as Qd6 or Qa5 are playable but her majesty may become a target for White's pieces.
9.Bd3
0-0
10.0-0
Nbd7
[10...Nc6
is the main move but after 11.a3
it is not so easy to maneuver the knight to d5.]
11.Bc2
Nb6
12.Qd3
White hopes his queen-bishop battery will force a weakness in Black's kingside.
12...Nbd5
13.Nxd5
Qxd5
14.Bg5
With a small threat :-)
14...g6
Weakness forced! Now to infiltrate...
15.Rfe1
Qd8
The queen was in the way. This move frees up d5 for the other knight.
16.Bb3
After ...g6 the b1-h7 diagonal is less exciting. The bishop's new targets are e6/f7 and/or possibly supporting a d5 pawn break.
16...Nd5
Blockade!
17.Bh6
White avoids exchanges. His space advantage is more valuable with more pieces on the board.
17...Re8
18.Ne5
Bf8
19.Qf3!
Hoping for [19.Qf3
Bxh6?
20.Qxf7+
Kh8
21.Bxd5
exd5
22.Nxg6+
and White wins]
19...Qf6!
The best reply. White can no longer avoid the exchanges.
20.Qxf6
Nxf6
21.Bxf8
Rxf8?
But here Black errs. [21...Kxf8
was superior, bringing the king closer to the center and keeping the rook active. ...Re7 is an important resource but instead Black "deactivates" his rook.]
22.Rac1
White has a lead in development and his rook has an open pathway to c7
22...b6
23.Rc7
Nd5
24.Bxd5
exd5
25.Nc6!
A powerful move. From here the knight dominates Black's position, attacking the a pawn and controlling the back rank. Note that neither rook can oppose on c8 because of Ne7+. I remember losing a game to GM Drazen Sermek in similar fashion when a Black knight landed on c3 and paralyzed my rooks.
25...Bf5
Best. Trying to save the a-pawn will only make things worse: [25...a5
26.Ne7+
and 26...--
27.Nxd5
hitting b6.]
26.Nxa7
I had to decide whether to capture with the knight or the rook. The knight is better - after [26.Rxa7
Rxa7
27.Nxa7
Ra8
28.Re7
Kf8
29.Rb7
Re8
Black has counterplay.]
26...Rfe8
27.Re3
Definitely not [27.Kf1??
Bd3+!
From e3 White blocks the e-file and prevents the Black rooks from becoming active]
27...Re4
28.Rxe4
dxe4
29.Kf1
Rd8
30.Nc6
Rd6
31.d5
A little tactic to cement White's advantage. The pawn is immune because of Ne7+
31...Kg7
32.Nb4
Another terrific square for the knight. From here the a and d-pawns are protected, Black's b-pawn blockaded and c2 covered.
32...Rd7
33.Rc6
Black's rook is passive, White's active. Why exchange?
33...b5
Yet another black pawn lands on a white square. Black's bishop is bad (blocked by pawns) and he has no control over the black squares.
34.Ke2
The coast is clear. Time for the king to emerge!
34...Rb7
35.Ke3
Bd7
36.Rc3
f5
37.Kd4
Kf6
38.Ra3
Black has beaten the rook back down the c-file but there is another way in.
38...g5
39.Ra6+
Kf7
40.Ke5
Kg7
Contrast the activity of the two monarchs. White's king is invading while Black's is oscillating.
41.Nc6
Resigns 1-0