In an open position, White has two splendid bishops, and Black has not yet castled. This gives rise to the idea of saving a tempo on retreating the rook. Indeed:

In the game, White retreated with 24.Rd2, and after 24...0-0 25.Bb2 Nf6 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Qd2 Re8 28.Bf3 Qg5 29.Qxb4 h5, Black obtained a slightly worse, but defensible position, which he duly held confidently.

The white bishops have managed to obtain great operating space. Black is playing without his Rh8, and White will easily be able to develop his initiative subsequently. Given the additional weakness of the back rank, Black has no chance of saving himself, for example:

With a winning position.

Obviously, White’s hopes are bound up with play in the centre, where the black king is caught. But he needs to play exceptionally energetically and accurately, as he has already sacrificed one piece:

There is no time to prepare this blow, as after 13.Qh3?, there is the strong 13...b3!, seizing the initiative.

On another square, the queen would be attacked with tempo: 14.Qg4 Kf7 15.f5 Nxe5!

Completely bad is 14...Bd5 15.Rxd5.

Other replies are also in White’s favour:
A) 15...Nxe5 16.fxe6+ Kg8 17.e7 Bxe7 18.Qe6+ Nf7 19.Bxe7;
B) 15...b3 16.fxe6+ Kg8 17.Qxb3 Nc5 18.Qc4 d5 19.Rxd5;
C) 15...Kg8 16.fxe6 Be4 – 15...Be4 16.fxe6+ Kg8.

On 16...Kg6, there follows 17.Bd3.