C41: Philidor Defence

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 Controls e5 2... Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5= 3. Bc4 Be6 3... Nc6 4. c3+/= 4. Bxe6+/- fxe6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 e5 6... Nf6 7. Qf3 Qc8 8. Qb3+/- 7. Nf3 7. Ne6!? Qd7 8. Qd5+- 7... Be7 8. Nc3 c6 Consolidates b5+d5 9. O-O Nf6 10. Re1 10. Qe2 O-O+/= 10... O-O= 11. Be3 11. Qe2 Kh8= 11... Nbd7 Black has a cramped position >= 11... Ng4= 12. Ne2?? allows the opponent back into the game >= 12. Ng5 would keep White alive 12... Qc8 13. Qd3+/= 12... Nxe4-+ 13. b4 13. c4 Qa5-+ 13... Ndf6 14. Ng5 >= 14. Qd3-+ 14... Nxg5 15. Bxg5 Ne4 15... d5 and Black can already relax 16. Bd2-+ 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. f3 Ng5 18. Ng3 Rf6 18... Ne6 19. Qd2-+ 19. Qd2 19. Qd3 Rd8-+ 19... Rg6 19... >= Rxf3!? 20. Rad1 Rf6-+ 20. f4-/+ Nf7 21. Re3 Qf6 22. Rf3? 22. Rf1 exf4 23. Ref3 Rg4 24. Rxf4 Rxf4 25. Rxf4 Qa1+ 26. Rf1 Qxa2-/+ 22... exf4 22... >= e4!? 23. Rff1 d5-+ 23. Raf1-/+ Ne5 23... Rg4!? 24. h3 Rh4-/+ (24... Rxg3 is the weaker alternative 25. Rxg3 Qe6 26. Qxf4+/-) 24. Rxf4=/+ Qe6 Black threatens to win material: Qe6xa2 25. Qf2 Qe7 25... h6 26. Nf5=/+ 26. Nf5= White has a mate threat 26... Qe8 27. Nh4 Rg4 28. Rxg4? >= 28. Nf5 and White hangs on 28... Rxf4 29. Qxf4=/+ 28... Nxg4-+ 29. Qg3 Qe3+ 30. Qxe3 Nxe3 31. Rf3 31. Rf2 Re8-+ 31... Nxc2 32. Nf5 Nxb4 33. Nxd6 33. Rb3 g6 34. Nxd6 Nxa2 35. Rxb7 a5-+ 33... b6 34. Rf4 34. a3 Nd5-+ 34... Nd5 34... >= Nxa2!? makes it even easier for Black 35. Nf5 c5 36. Ne7+ Kh8 37. Nd5-+ 35. Rc4 c5 36. a3 Rd8 37. Ne4 Re8 38. Nd6 38. Kf2 Rf8+ 39. Kg3 Rf1-+ 38... Re1+ 38... Re6 keeps an even firmer grip 39. Nf5-+ 39. Kf2 Re3 40. Rc1 40. a4-+ 40... Rxa3 41. Re1 Kf8 41... >= h6-+ and Black can celebrate victory 42. Re8# 1-0 [Fritz 9 (5s)]