This a more recent game I played at the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) against an opponent 400 points higher rated than me in standard play rating. I had the white pieces after my previous victory as black.

The game started...

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6


We arrive at a Petroff Defense, an attempt to escape all tactical play and reach long term equality.

3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 Nf6

With 5... Nf6, my opponent opts for a quiet alternative to any main lines without much surrounding theory. I was more prepared for the main line 5... d5.


6. c4 Be7 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Re1 b6?!

A strange choice. 10...Bf5 is more in the spirit of a standard Petroff, developing the bishop to its natural square. 10...Bg4 would have also been interesting after 11. h3 Bh5 12. Be3 and the standard break 12...d5

11. h3 Bb7 12. Be3 d5 13. b3?!

An inaccuracy. Better was 13. cxd5 Nxd5 with rough equality

13...Bb4 14. Qc2 Ne4

Forcing my hand. I had only a few options here: 
 
15. Bd2 creates an enormous weakness on d4.

The other was the game choice 15. Nxd5

The game continued 15...Bxe1 16. Rxe1 Na5

16...Ne7 was stronger.

17. b4?

A huge blunder. This allows the simple 17...Nxc4, winning a clear pawn and leaving me an entire exchange down.

17...Bxd5?

Missing this simple tactic:

18. cxd5 Nb7 19. Bb5 c6?

Unnessesary. This allows me to grab a free pawn, undouble my d-pawns and create a passed pawn on c6.

20. dxc6 Qc7

Forced. And now...

21.Bf4!!

Winning on the spot. Every try loses...

The obvious 21...Qxf4 loses to 22 cxb7, regaining my piece and leaving both rooks en prise.

21...Ned6 fails in view of the quiet 22. Rc1, defending the queen and threatening to capture the free knight. After 22...Nd8, 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. c7 is completely crushing.

The game continuation went 21...Ndb6, immediately losing a piece to 22. Rxe4 Rxe4 23. Qxe4 Nxe4 24. Bxc7

This is resignable already. The game played on with 24...Nc3 25. Ba6 Nd5 26. Bd6 b5 27. Bb7 Rd8 28. Bc5

Avoiding any last tricks. 28. c7 Nxc7 29.Bxc7 Rd7 leaves the endgame descive but unclear.

28...a6 29. Bxa6 Ra8 30. Bxb5 Ra3

Not walking into 30...Rxa2 31. Bc4

31. Bc4 Nc7 32. b5 Rc3 33. b6

My opponent resigned after this as queening is unstoppable.