Of course, a competent A6M2 pilot can easily turn to face you, either spoiling your attack or turning the fight into a series of head-on passes. In the latter case, you might be limited to making quick shots at long range before taking evasive action, since those 20mm cannons on the Zero can hurt!

If you climb to try to "bounce" the Zero from above it can keep up with most planes pretty well up to about 20,000 feet/5,000 meters. At the very least it can briefly "stand on its nose" and take a quick shot at you as you come hurtling down.

Accept that a one-on-one Boom and Zoom fight against a Zero is going to be a knife fight - the winner goes to the hospital, the loser goes to the morgue.

You extend, climb and turn into make a pass. The Zero turns into your attack and you both shoot. If you're lucky, your 50 calibers set him on fire and he misses. If not, you hope that his 20 mm cannons just punch a hole in your wing rather than killing you or taking out your engine. If your engine gets hit, the game is over since you no longer have your speed and climb advantage. Dive like hell to extend your range and try to get home ASAP.

Realistically, the way to take out a Zero is the way that the U.S. Navy did it - teamwork and attrition.

Sure, extending and coming back gives you the head-on, but it leaves you the choice and it beats just getting shot down in a turn-fight.

You're only getting away from a 1vs1 Boom and Zoom fight unhurt if you started with a decent altitude advantage and manage it well.

If you're in a tight spot, the Zero has a slightly lower roll rate, and this gets slower the faster you go. You can use this to your advantage. Lot's of jinking as the Zero doesn't have too much cannon ammo.
:)

Authentic troll graph is authentic.

Seriously.

And, if you have the altitude and the plane to do it, dive first to get some speed and extend, hope that the Zero chases you and then roll once their control surfaces "lock up" at high speeds.

Of course, a smart Zero pilot won't take that bait and will just take advantage of the altitude advantage you've just given him. He will orbit above you and kill you with diving attacks as you try to regain altitude. So, a diving split-S or something like it is mostly an escape technique.

If you can manage it, keep the speed in the fight high enough that the Zero's controls get stiff, limiting their maneuverability and work with a wingman.

It would be great if the IL2 AI could properly incorporate the Thatch Weave:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thatch_weave

Yes. 1vs1 B&Z against a maneuverable foe is one of the most challenging types of dogfighting there is. It makes the P-38's exploits in the Pacific against Zeroes and Oscars all the more impressive. (Of course, the Ki-43 Oscar is armed with popguns, I'll take a head-on attack in a P-38 vs. a Ki-43 any time.)

I'm talking about a general 'equal terms' scenario. It's still possible to out maneuver a Zero if you keep your wits about you... no further info required ;)