It's important to note that the theory in this position is composed almost exclusively of correspondence games. Of course, the pawn advance creates some weaknesses in Black's camp, and pawn structure will be the main strategic theme of this game. But the knight is reinforced in his position on e4 and he has no intention of leaving, not even if attacked.
1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... g8f6 The Petroff Defense seems too boring for a player with as fun a style as Van Foreest, but he has new ideas to play it more dynamically. The truth is that the old prejudices that players of my generation have against the Petroff, the Berlin, the London System, must be put aside, as the newer generation shows nearly every day. Well, maybe not in the case of the Berlin. 3. f3e5  3... d7d6  4. e5f3  4... f6e4  5. d2d4  5... d6d5  6. f1d3  6... c8e6 I have to admit I've never seen this move before. In fact, it's only been played a handful of times, at least compared to the vast amount of theory that goes into the Petroff Defense. This move is only Black's tenth most popular choice. Van Foreest once again lives up to his fame as an explorer of little-known paths. 7. e1g1 