A very risky attempt to play for the win. \"I thought this move a blunder because after:\"
1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... g8f6 So noticed that his opponent has thousands of games against 2...Nc6 in the database, but very few with 2...Nf6. \"We had a rest day yesterday and Hans prepares extremely well the openings, so why not the Petroff $6\" 3. f3e5  3... d7d6  4. e5f3  4... f6e4  5. d2d4  5... d6d5  6. f1d3  6... c8f5 Black solves the problem of his most problematic piece. A very good sign for the second player. 7. e1g1  7... f8e7  8. f1e1  8... e8g8  9. b1d2 Main theory so far as expected. 9... e4d6  10. d2f1  10... c7c6  11. c1f4  11... f5d3  12. d1d3  12... b8a6 Looks like the best path for the knight. 13. f1e3  13... a6c7 [#] 14. b2b3 This is a novelty, and a logical one. Niemann prepares the c2-c4 advance, the only realistic chance to put the opponent's center under pressure. 14... c7e6  15. f4e5 So assumed that his opponent's opening preparation ended here. 15... d6e4 A nice maneuver $1 \"Black's only problem is the d5 -pawn.\" 16. c2c4  16... e4f6 \"I thought this equalizes well.\" (So) 17. a1d1  17... g7g6  18. g2g3 Covers the f4 square in advance, and prepares the double trade on f6 and d5. 18... a7a6  19. e1e2  19... f8e8 