1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. g1f3  3... d7d5  4. b1c3  4... f8e7 The Queen's Gambit Declined is the most classic of all variations that start with the queen's pawn. It has stood the test of time and has been played by virtually every great chess player in history for about two centuries. Yes, sometimes it's not the most exciting defense, and if you need to win with Black, maybe it's not the most recommended—but we all have flaws, right $2 At the end of the day, there's no better defense than this. 5. c1f4  5... e8g8  6. e2e3  6... c7c5  7. d4c5  7... e7c5  8. c4d5  8... f6d5  9. c3d5  9... e6d5  10. f1d3  10... c5b4  11. f3d2  11... b8c6  12. e1g1  12... b4e7 This is a typical maneuver. Black takes the bishop to f6. 13. d1b3 A novelty that will not have much success. Interestingly, the queen, the piece that executes the first new move of the game, will be a constant concern for White during this game. 13... e7f6  14. a2a3  14... d8e7  15. a1c1  15... c8e6 Aronian probably confused his opening preparation since Black played natural moves and already has a comfortable position. 16. b3b5 Removing the queen from the x-ray. 16... a8c8  17. c1c2  17... a7a6  18. b5b6  18... e7d7  19. d2b3  19... f6d8  20. b6c5  20... d8e7  21. c5b6  21... e7d8  22. b6c5  22... d8e7  23. c5b6 Nepomniachtchi now has the option to make a draw with a move repetition, and many players would choose that route. A quick draw with Black isn't a bad day's work, right $2 Hats off to his fighting spirit. 23... g7g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] 24. f4g3  24... e7d8  25. b6c5  25... d8e7  26. c5b6 The draw is still at hand, but Black decides to play on. 26... f7f5 A risky decision that will be rewarded. As they say, \"fortune favors the bold.\" 27. f2f3  27... e7d8  28. b6c5  28... d8e7  29. c5b6  29... e7d8  30. b6c5  30... f5f4 No draw $1 31. e3f4  31... g5f4  32. g3f2  32... d8e7  33. c5b6  33... e7d8 This is the last time the repetition of moves with Bd8-e7 was played. Time to move on $1 34. b6c5  34... d8f6  35. f1c1  35... d7g7  36. c5d6  36... c8e8  37. c1e1 [%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is innacurate. 37... c6e5 White's position is now on the brink of collapse. 38. b3d4 [%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This loses immediately. 38... e6h3  39. d3f1  39... e5f7 [%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A subtle move that wins material. 40. d6d5  40... e8e1  41. f2e1  41... f6d4 Black is a piece up for only one pawn. The rest is easy for Nepomniachtchi. 42. g1h1  42... h3c8  43. f1c4  43... f8e8  44. e1b4  44... g7f6  45. c4d3  45... d4c3 [%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A nice move, exploiting the back-rank weakness. 46. b4c3  46... f6c3  47. g2g4  47... c3f6  48. c2c7  48... e8e1  49. h1g2  49... c8e6  50. d5h5  50... f6b2 