[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]
1. d2d4  1... d7d5  2. c2c4  2... c7c6  3. g1f3  3... g8f6  4. e2e3  4... g7g6 The Schlechter Variation is passive and leads to an advantage for White without any major problems or risks. But it's still a playable line, as will be demonstrated in this game. 5. b1c3  5... f8g7  6. f1e2  6... e8g8  7. e1g1  7... c8e6 Not the most popular choice, but it was played recently by Abdusattorov in a rapid game. Bartel has also played it in November, so it was probably not a big surprise for Royal. 8. b2b3 A natural choice. Many moves are playable and almost all of them offer a small advantage to White. We have a long positional battle ahead and Bartel probably counted on that. 8... f6e4  9. c1b2  9... e4c3  10. b2c3  10... h7h6 Played in order to prevent Ng5. 11. d1c2  11... e6f5 This natural move is a novelty. 12. c2b2  12... e7e6 Bartel reinforces the center and now has the option to capture on d5 with the e-pawn. Of course, the bishop is in an uncomfortable position and this will need to be resolved with g5 or h5. 13. f1c1  13... g6g5 Freeing some space for the bishop. 14. f3d2 This is probably not the best plan. 14... b8d7  15. b3b4  15... a8c8  16. a2a4 The advance of the queenside pawns is the natural plan. 16... f8e8  17. b4b5  17... c6c5 [%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 18. c4d5  18... e6d5  19. d4c5 [%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 19... g7c3  20. b2c3  20... d7c5  21. c3b4  21... b7b6  22. d2f3  22... d8f6  23. b4a3 Probably played to avoid ...Bd3, although he shouldn't have worried too much. 23... c5e4  24. f3d4  24... f5g6  25. e2f3  25... e4f2 [%cal de4f2][%c_arrow e4f2;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false] 26. g1f2  26... g5g4 [%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 27. c1c8 [%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 27... e8c8  28. a1c1  28... c8c4 [%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This strong move was probably missed by Royal. 29. f2e2 [%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 29... g4f3  30. d4f3  30... g6c2 [%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This subtle move wins the a-pawn. 31. f3d4 [%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 31... c4a4  32. a3b2  32... c2e4  33. b2b3  33... a4c4  34. c1c4  34... d5c4  35. b3c4  35... e4g2  36. c4c8  36... g8h7  37. c8c2  37... f6g6  38. c2c7  38... g2e4 [%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This lets the win slip. 39. e2d2 [%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 39... g6g2  40. d2e1  40... g2g1  41. e1e2 