1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4  3... g8f6  4. d2d3  4... f8c5  5. c2c3  5... d7d6  6. b2b4 The plan with the queenside pawn advance has been tried by strong chess players recently. One of the advantages of the Italian opening is that White has many possible plans, from aggressive to positional. 6... c5b6  7. a2a4  7... a7a5 The natural move, fixing the pawn structure, 7...a6 is also played quite a lot. 8. b4b5  8... c6e7  9. e1g1  9... e8g8  10. b1d2  10... e7g6  11. d3d4 Caruana has already played this position with White on two other occasions. 11... c8g4 The most popular move. 12. d1c2  12... d8d7  13. f1e1  13... f8e8  14. h2h3 A move that has been tried in correspondence games. 14... g4f3  15. d2f3  15... e5d4  16. c1b2 A theoretical novelty played instantly. With Caruana you know that there will always be a new idea in the opening. The alternatives don’t offer much. 16... d4c3  17. b2c3  17... g6e5  18. f3e5  18... d6e5  19. a1d1  19... d7e7  20. d1d3 Preparing to take the rook to the kingside. White has sufficient compensation for the pawn and his opening preparation has yielded a playable position and an advantage on the clock. Objectively, however, the position is equal. 20... e8d8  21. d3f3  21... d8d7 Preparing to double rooks or to bring the rook to f8, securing f7. 22. f3f5  22... b6d4  23. c3d2  23... c7c6 A good move to create counterplay. 24. b5c6  24... b7c6  25. d2g5  25... a8b8  26. g5f6  26... g7f6  27. c2c1  27... b8b4 This allows White a tricky tactical chance. 28. c4f1  28... d7d6  29. c1h6  29... e7f8  30. h6h5  30... f8g7  31. g1h2  31... g7g6  32. h5f3  32... c6c5 Black has stabilized the extra pawn, but White still has compensation. 33. e1c1  33... b4b2  34. f3d1  34... d6b6  35. f1e2  35... g6h6  36. e2b5  36... g8f8  37. c1c2  37... b2b4  38. d1d3 White has sufficient compensation for the pawn. The game enters a maneuvering phase. 38... b6d6  39. b5c4  39... f8e7  40. d3g3  40... d6d8  41. g3f3  41... h6g6  42. f3e2  42... d8b8  43. c4b5  43... b8d8  44. e2f3  44... d8d6  45. g2g3 Caruana improves his position with the classic g3-Kg2, already giving indications that he wants to play for a win. 45... g6g8  46. h2g2  46... d6b6  47. h3h4  47... b6d6  48. f3e2  48... d6b6 Firouzja is satisfied with the draw and remains waiting. 49. g2h3  49... g8c8  50. h3g2  50... c8g8  51. g2h3  51... g8c8  52. e2g4 A winning attempt. 52... b6b8 Preparing to bring the queen to g8. 53. b5c4 