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.

Black has been deprived of any counterplay.

Desperation in a difficult position.