1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5  3... g8f6  4. d2d3  4... f8c5  5. e1g1 This is the least popular of the three main options, but there's still a lot of theory behind it. The problem is that it allows the exchange of knights. 5... c6d4 [%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 6. f3d4  6... c5d4  7. c2c3  7... d4b6  8. b5a4 This is a prophylactic move that has been played by many strong GMs. White anticipates c7-c6. 8... e8g8  9. c1g5 I think one of the critical positional themes in both the Ruy Lopez and especially the Italian these days is how to play these positions after Bg5. The game has a tendency to become sharper, since Black must be ready to play h6-g5, which creates weaknesses on the kingside but leaves the bishop out of play on g3. In some cases, it's Black that will start attacking with h5, g4, and so on. When I was younger, someone taught me that Bg5 was always bad, with the game Winter-Capablanca being the ubiquitous textbook example. But chess evolves, and we must be ready to challenge old assumptions and be honest enough to admit the truth: I just don't know how to evaluate these positions. 9... h7h6  10. g5h4  10... d7d6  11. h2h3 [%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Another prophylactic move. The idea becomes clear if we examine the more popular 11.Nd2. 11... g7g5 This has to be played at some point. 12. h4g3  12... c7c6 Gukesh decides to play at a slow pace. 13. b1d2  13... c8e6  14. a4c2  14... f8e8 Gukesh is not playing for an attack. He's just focusing on finishing his development. But the weaknesses created by the pawn on g5 will come back to haunt him. 15. g1h1  15... b6c7  16. d3d4  16... b7b5 This is a difficult move to play. Gukesh fights for more space on the queenside. 17. a2a4 [%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 17... a7a5  18. f1e1  18... a8b8  19. a4b5  19... c6b5  20. d2f1 White plays natural moves and has a pleasant advantage. 20... b5b4 The game becomes very sharp. It's funny that Black advances the pawns from both flanks with equal appetite. 21. c2a4  21... e8f8  22. a1c1  22... b4c3  23. b2c3  23... e5d4 [%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This makes things worse, and the computer is very critical about it, but it's not easy to suggest constructive alternatives. 24. c3d4  24... b8b4  25. d4d5  25... e6c8  26. d1c2 [%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This move throws away the advantage. 26... c7b6  27. e4e5  27... d6e5  28. g3e5 The position becomes chaotic and positional considerations are no longer important. Calculation is the only thing that matters now. 28... b6d4 A good human move.