1.Nf3Nf62.c4g63.Nc3Bg74.e4e5!?An uncommon, but by no means
unheard-of, gambit that has been played by Russian greats such as
Nepomniachtchi, Grischuk, and even Kasparov!5.Nxe5O-O6.Nf3Re87.d3d5So far, still the main continuation.8.cxd5Nxd59.Bd2...9.Nxd5has also
been tried, although White scores better in the game line.9....Bg410.Be2Nb410...Bxf311.gxf3Nb412.Be3N8c6transposes11.Be3Bxf312.gxf3N8c6The first decision point for Niemann.13.h4...A core idea in this
opening, although it has been more often tried after a2-a3.13.a3Na614.h4would be another way to essay the same idea.(14.Nb5is more precise.Nd415.Nxd4Bxd416.h4Nc517.f4Ne618.Qd2Bg719.h5with a lasting attak
that White managed to convert into a win in 36 moves in Indjic – Djukic,
Ohrid, 2023.)Nd415.Rc1Nc516.Nd5!?Nce6!17.Kf1c6(17...Qd6!∓Woodward's idea, covering the f4-square and thus preparing ...c7-c6,
would be much stronger.)18.Nf4Nxf419.Bxf4Qd720.h5Ne621.Qd2Nxf422.Qxf4Bxb223.Rb1Bg724.hxg6hxg625.Kg2with an equal game, although
White won on move 43 in Pechac – Tomczak, Poland, 2023.13....Nd414.Rc1Qd6N14...c5was tried last year:15.a3Nbc616.h5Ne6?!17.hxg6hxg618.f4±with a big attack. White won on move 49 in Krassowizkij –
Zuferi, Eberstadt, 2022.15.a3Na616.f4Rad817.b4c5The point of
Black's 14th and 15th moves was to prepare this counterstrike.18.e5Qe719.b5Nc720.Qa4Qe621.Bd1?!...21.Qxa7The pawn was not poisoned. AfterNxe222.Nxe2Qd523.Ng3Nxb524.Qxc5Qxd325.Qc4Qxc426.Rxc4Nxa327.Rc7b528.Ne4White regained the pawn and can argue that Black's b-pawn might
be more of a liability than a threat. Play is unclear.21....Qf522.Qc4Bh6All of Black's pieces are springing to life against White's numerous weak,
fixed pawns!23.Ne4Bxf424.Nf6+Kg7!Even with check, White does not
have the activity to justify the Exchange.25.Nxe8+Rxe826.Qxc5Ncxb5?!26...Nce6!keeps more pressure on. Now,27.O-O??Qh3forces mate.27.O-ORxe5!But okay, Black clearly had an energetic idea here. Take my
knights, please!27...Qh3??28.Bxf4is the simplest reason why Black
should have prioritized keeping a knight on e6.28.Bxd4Nxd429.Qxd4Bxc1Black is up a pawn and has the more active pieces to better coordinate with
the dark-squared bishop. The endgame will only be drawish if White
successfully trades off the two sets of major pieces.30.Re1Bf431.Re4...31.Rxe5?!Bxe532.Qe4Qf6leaves Black with a lingering attack.31....Qf632.h5...32.Rxf4trading into a rook endgame would not offer White salvation.Re1+33.Kg2Qxd434.Rxd4Rxd135.Rd7a5-+32....Rg5+33.Kf1Be534.Qxa7b6!It was imperative to cut White's queen off from returning to the
kingside.35.Qa8gxh536.Re3Bh237.Re8Rg1+38.Ke2Kh639.Bc2Qc340.Rc8...White walks into mate, but 40. Kf3 saving the king cost an entire bishop
and was equivalent to a resignation, anyways.40....Re1+41.Kf3Qf6+42.Kg2Rg1+0-1 Black wins.0-1