1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. b1c3  2... d7d5  3. c1f4 The Veresov and the London are Firouzja's favorites. 3... c7c5  4. e2e3  4... c5d4  5. e3d4 And yes, they can both transpose into an Exchanged Caro-Kann. 5... a7a6  6. g1f3  6... b8c6  7. f3e5  7... e7e6  8. g2g3  8... f8d6  9. f1g2  9... e8g8  10. e1g1  10... d8c7  11. f1e1  11... b7b5 The main plan for Black remains the advance of the pawns on the queenside. 12. a2a3 Firouzja improves on a game of his own $1 12... c8b7  13. h2h4  13... a8c8 All of this is pretty logical as Carlsen tries to obstruct the normal development of the opponent. 14. c3a2 White needs to transfer the knight to a better square, ideally d3. 14... d6e5 Simple and good. 15. d4e5  15... f6d7 The threat against the e5 forces White to the awkward 16. d1h5  16... c6e7 A strong maneuver. Not only is c2 hanging. 17. c2c3  17... d5d4 Carlsen gets rid of the \"bad\" bishop while removing the bishop pair of the opponent. A potential attacker is also gone. Carlsen was extremely solid throughout the whole match, leaving his creative opponent as few tactical chances as possible. 18. g2b7  18... c7b7  19. a1d1 Not interested in the pawn, White hopes to trade under favorable conditions and seeks activity on the open files. 19... e7f5  20. c3d4  20... d7b6 Restrictive play $1 21. a2c3  21... f8d8  22. c3e4 The most active move $1 22... f5d4  23. d1d3  23... d4f5  24. h5f3  24... b7a8 Prophylaxis, yeah $1 25. f4g5  25... d8d3  26. f3d3  26... a8d5 The more Black trades, the better the endgame should be, in general.