Preparing Be3 to eliminate the defender on c5.

Vacating the h4-square for the knight.

This loses a pawn.

More prudent was 7...Bf6 8.Rb4 Rc6 with chances for a draw.

With a sound extra pawn White won.

Seizing the open file and eyeing the weak e5-square. White doesn't fear the exchange on d3 since the knight is Black's most active piece.

Preventing ...Bf5 and preparing Rae1 with a better game, thanks to the control of the e-file and the superior knight.

Given his space disadvantage, Black searches for piece exchanges.

Or 2.Bd3 Nxc3 3.Bxh7+ Kh8 4.bxc3 Qh4 5.Bd3 Ne5 with quite some activity for the pawn.

Both with or without queens, Black's task has eased considerably. After the departure of its colleague, the remaining knight has more squares to choose from, such as f6, e5 and c5.