Sacrificing a pawn in order to establish a powerful dark square blockade.

2.g3 gxf4 3.gxf4 Bh6 4.Ne2 Rg8 with counterplay.

Black seizes the blocking square and creates the threat of 3...Nc4.

Exploiting tactical motifs along the c1 h6 diagonal.

The only way to keep the balance – Taimanov.

Swapping the blockader before Black goes 6...Bg7.

With the plan of ...h6 h5 and ...Bh6(+). Thanks to his bishop pair and dark square control, Black is slightly better.

Black has assessed that the d5-pawn can be safely blocked on d6, after which the pawn itself will restrict several of the white pieces.

Securing future play with ...b7-b5.