context: 1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5  3... g8f6  4. e1g1  4... f6e4  5. d2d4  5... e4d6  6. b5c6  6... d7c6  7. d4e5  7... d6f5  8. d1d8  8... e8d8 Vachier-Lagrave from time to time still tries to defeat the Berlin Defense with the endgame that so exasperated Kasparov in his 2000 match against Kramnik. At the super-GM level, Black has certainly defended well, but I have the impression that amateur chess players underestimate the difficulty of playing this endgame with Black. 9. h2h3  9... c8d7 [%c_arrow d8c8;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false,b7b6;keyPressed;none;from;b7;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false,c8b7;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;b7;persistent;false] Taking the king to c8 and then playing b6-Kb7 is one of the most combative plans for Black. 10. b1c3  10... h7h6 An important move to prevent Ng5. 11. b2b3 White prepares the development of the bishop on b2—so far, all his moves are very natural. 11... c6c5 [%c_highlight c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] This move is only the third most popular choice for Black, but it has been played by Firouzja before. Advancing the pawn to c5 is generally a difficult decision: on the one hand, Black gains the c6-square for a bishop or knight; on the other, the d5-square becomes available for the white knight. 12. f1d1  12... d8c8  13. c3d5  13... a7a5  14. a2a4  14... g7g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A typical Berlin move, gaining space on the kingside, which makes it difficult for White's pawns to advance. Furthermore, the knight cannot use the f4 square anymore. 15. c2c4 Reinforcing the knight's position and preventing any attempt by Black related to c5-c4. 15... d7e6  16. c1b2  16... f5e7 [%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 17. h3h4  17... g5g4  18. f3h2 The first new move of the game. 18... h6h5  19. f2f4 Now Black has a difficult positional decision: should he capture en passant  $2 19... e7f5  20. h2f1  20... a8a6  21. g2g3  21... f5d4 