! A standard move in such positions. Black aims to play Bh6 to exchange one's passive bishop. Black also creates the threat of f5xg4 f3xg4 Nf6-g4 (and Qd8-h4) in some cases.

As the plan of Ng4 is deterred, Black's queen does not need to stay on d8. White is ready now to play 22 Nc6, and Black evacuates one's queen with this prophylactic move.

Not 24 Nxe7?? exf3! 25 Nc6 f2+ 26 Kxf2 Nxd5+ 27 Kg1 Nxc3. However, 24 Nxe4!? Nexd5 25 Ng5+ Kh8 26 f4 was a tactical option.

! The point is that White's knight N/c6 alone does not do anything scary on the square c6. It even hinders White's attack on the c-line. With the text move, Black blocks the pawn P/b5.

! Now or it is already too late. A standard manoeuvre in such positions. Black wants to get rid of one's passive bishop and of White's bishop that can attack Black's queenside.

A clever manouevre.

White threatens to attack Black's pawn P/c7 both with the knight and from the c-line.

White's direct attack on the c-line can be defended with Qe7, Ne8, and, if needed, Na8. Therefore, White cleverly tries to combine the pressure on the f-line with the attack on the queenside.

! From square f2, White's queen both attacks on the f-line and targets Black's knight N/b6.

?! 31...Qe7 was safer. With the text move, Black aims to exchange some pieces. After the exchange of dark-squared bishops, Black had the idea-fix that the knight N/b6 is in safe from now on. Unfortunately, White's queen Q/f2 also can do the job.