1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... g8f6  3. f3e5  3... d7d6  4. e5d3 The rarest of the knight retreats in this position of the Petroff Defense. White's idea is to exchange queens and press an endgame that is close to equality. Honestly, it's a choice closer to Carlsen's style than Vachier-Lagrave's, but the French GM will show that he can play technical endgames with the same skill he plays dynamic middlegames. 4... f6e4  5. d1e2  5... d8e7  6. d3f4  6... e4f6  7. d2d4  7... e7e2  8. f1e2 Examining the results of the games played by strong grandmasters in this position, I get the impression that White's performance is much better than the computer's evaluation indicates. This shows that it's not so simple to defend the endgame. 8... b8c6  9. c2c3  9... d6d5  10. f2f3 A useful move, freeing the f2-square for the king and taking the e4-square from Black's knight. 10... c6d8 [%c_effect d8;square;d8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An excellent move. The knight is not doing much on c6, so it's repositioned and the pawn moves to the square, reinforcing the center. 11. e1f2 Already a new move. 11... f8d6  12. b1a3  12... c7c6  13. a3c2  13... c8f5  14. f4d3  14... h7h5 It's not clear that this move is better than the more timid pawn advance to h6. 15. c1g5  15... f6d7 Black doesn't need to be too worried about the capture on f6. 16. c2e3  16... f5h7  17. g5f4  17... e8e7  18. f4d6  18... e7d6  19. d3f4  19... h5h4  20. g2g3 White tries to open the h-file to put pressure on the kingside. 20... g7g5  21. f4g2 A critical moment. 21... h4h3 [%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This move creates long-term problems for Black, as the h3-pawn becomes a weakness that will be a constant headache. There are two good alternatives. 22. g2e1  22... d8e6  23. e2d3 [%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Controlling the f5-square. 23... a8f8 