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.