Now Rapport started to think.
1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4  3... f8c5  4. b1c3 One of the many possible ways to play the Italian Opening. Usually this square is reserved for the pawn, so that White can fight for the center with c3-d4, while the knight is maneuvered via d2 to f1 and g3. To make sense of the knight's positioning on c3, White must maneuver it to g3 via e2, place it on d5, or chase the black bishop with Na4 at some point. 4... g8f6  5. d2d3  5... e8g8  6. c1g5 The good old pin. 6... h7h6  7. g5h4  7... c5e7 The most solid way to play. Black doesn't need to commit to g7-g5 while it's possible to end the pin in a more relaxed way. 8. a2a4 [%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A rare move in this exact position, but gaining space with a2-a4 is an Italian classic. 8... d7d6  9. h4f6 Why White captures the knight now instead of castling is something that will become clear in the next few moves. White still hopes for an attack on the kingside. 9... e7f6  10. c3d5  10... g7g6 The first new move. 11. h2h4 This move is necessary to justify White's play, otherwise Black can play Bg7 and then Ne7, with a comfortable position. 11... f6g7 The right way to deal with h4-h5 is to ignore it. 12. h4h5  12... g6g5  13. d5e3  13... c6e7 Black prepares c6-d5 or Kh8-f5. 14. f3d2  14... c7c6  15. g2g4 [%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Fixing the pawn structure on the kingside in order to prevent the liberating f7-f5. Now White can try to play against the bishop on g7, which becomes a piece with limited mobility. The computer is not very impressed with all this, but to play at a high level nowadays you need to ignore some of the machine's evaluations and think about whether the position is comfortable for playing - that's enough. Rapport was still in preparation, as he played all of this quickly. 15... d6d5  16. c4b3 