Preventing Black's only active idea, ...Na5-c4. Besides which, a doubling of rooks with Rbc2 is enabled.

1...Ra7 2.Rbc2 Raa6 3.Kh2 is similar.

Preparing a kingside advance with g2-g4, f2-f4 and f4-f5.

This simply drops a pawn. Preferable was 2...c6 with just a slight disadvantage – Yusupov.

With a sound extra pawn, White went on to win.

White has managed to isolate the enemy rook on b7.

With every exchange the inferiority of that rook will make itself more strongly felt.

Softening up the light squares.

In the event of 4...exf5 , one of several tempting replies is 5.Ne7+! Bxe7 6.Rxe7 , followed by Rdd7.

Prophylaxis against the ...b6-b5 advance, which from now on will be met by c4-c5.