1. d2d4  1... d7d5  2. g1f3  2... g8f6  3. e2e3  3... c7c5  4. c2c3 A curious opening choice for such an aggressive player, but he will find a way to attack even after a seemingly harmless scheme, as we will soon see. 4... e7e6 On the board, there's a Semi-Slav Defense with inverted colors. As I have already written several times, it's very difficult to analyze opening variations with inverted colors, as the goal is not the same when playing Black or White, so the dynamics change, and what can be considered a success with one color can be a failure when with the other. 5. f1d3  5... b8d7 This is a preventive move against the capture on c5. Black's light-squared bishop is not in trouble since it will be developed on b7. 6. b1d2  6... f8d6  7. e1g1  7... e8g8  8. f1e1  8... d8c7 [%c_effect c7;square;c7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This move is inaccurate, as the black queen is not well placed on c7 if the c-file opens. This opinion is not shared by most chess players, as this is the most popular move. 9. e3e4 [%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This push is necessary to free White's pieces.