This helps White to create a strong passed pawn on the a-file. The prophylactic 1...Rec8 was better.

Simple but strong. Now that 3...Rec8 fails tactically, White wins the battle for the c-file.

Thanks to his outside passed pawn and active pieces, White is winning.

1...bxa4?! 2.b5! +/-

Giving up the knight in exchange for two powerful connected passed pawns.

2...bxc3 3.Nxc6 Nf6 4.Qxc3 Bf8 5.Rxa8! Rxa8 6.Ra1! Ne4 7.Qb2 Re8 8.Ne5

With the strong threat of 9 b6, which obliges Black to take radical measures.

Now the passed pawns win the game.

With a quick win.

Sacrificing the exchange in order to create counterplay.

The bishop exchange will leave the white kingside without defenders.