1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4  3... f8c5  4. d2d3  4... g8f6  5. e1g1  5... d7d6  6. c2c3  6... a7a5  7. f1e1  7... e8g8  8. h2h3  8... h7h6  9. b1d2  9... c8e6  10. c4b5  10... d8b8  11. d2f1  11... b8a7 This is one important position for the line with a7-a5 in the Italian. 12. e1e2 [%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A modern idea, keeping the bishops on the board. 12... a5a4  13. f1g3  13... a7a5  14. b5c6  14... b7c6 Both players were still clearly in book, having played all these moves quickly. 15. e2c2 [%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This move has been played before, and it's a difficult one to play, to say the least. It seems strange to take the rook off e2 and place it behind a pawn. The continuation of the game will offer some hints about the hidden idea of this move, but we can still take the opportunity to remember Nimzowitsch's concept: the \"mysterious rook move.\" Being a precursor to the concept of prophylaxis, we can suspect that this concept holds the key to White's idea: the fight against the d6-d5 move. In fact, after White plays c4, the move d6-d5 becomes, perhaps, less attractive as it opens the way to the rook. 15... f8b8 [%c_effect b8;square;b8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This is a new move. Speaking of \"mysterious rook moves,\" I really don't like this one. The rook seems to be too far from the king and does not fulfill a very important role here. The computer, naturally, disagrees with everything I wrote and considers the move to be ok. 16. c3c4 [%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 16... a5b6  17. d1e2  17... g8h7  18. a1b1  18... b6a7  19. c1d2  19... c5b6 The impression one gets is that Royal didn't know what plan to execute. Not having a plan is a chess player's worst nightmare. 20. b2b4  20... a4b3  21. a2b3  21... c6c5  22. f3h4  22... f6g8 [%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 23. f2f4  23... e5f4  24. d2f4 White has achieved a very comfortable position, with a space advantage and attacking prospects on the kingside, with Black's heavy pieces dangerously far from the king. 24... b8e8  25. f4d2 [%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Niemann brings the bishop to c3, but this is more sophisticated than the position requires. 25... c7c6 [%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 26. g3f5 [%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This leaves the knight in an awkward position on h4. 26... d6d5  27. d2c3  27... d5d4  28. c3d2 A hard-working bishop. 28... b6c7 