Clearing the centre before White castles away from the e-file.

4.0-0? exd4 5.Nxd4 Qb6 Black wins a piece
4.dxe5 d4 , followed by ...Nxe5
4.dxc5 d4 , followed by ...Nxc5, also favours him.

With ideas like ...c5-c4 and ...Bb7-a6 Black keeps a strong initiative.

Initiating an attack on the queenside, which indirectly threatens the safety of the white king.

2.cxb5 axb5 3.a5 c5! with a clear edge – Karpov.

Enabling a future knight manoeuvre via f8.

Keeping the rook in order to enhance a future attack.

White should have restricted the enemy knight by 10.f5 , although Black maintains the initiative after d5.

With the idea of ...c6-c5. There followed: