Anticipating the check along the diagonal.

3...Qb7+ 4.Qf3 This is the idea. After the queen trade, the c6-square will again be accessible for the knight.

Guaranteeing an outpost on c6 for the knight. From there, it will block the c-file and there will be some Ne7+ ideas in the air.

A natural move to protect our pawn chain.

Botvinnik is not interested at all in the a-file. The plan is Nc4-Nd6, with a very active position.

This is a typical position in the Ruy López. Black has managed to get the pawn to d4 and now makes a standard maneuver to gain control of the central dark squares.

With this sequence, Black eliminates the security guards of the d4-square and leaves White with a structure more typical of a Sicilian Defense, with a backward pawn on d3. The d4-square can be occupied by a black minor piece. The position is still balanced because Black has also compromised his structure on the queenside.

Developing a piece and avoiding the capture on e5, while at the same time planning to eliminate a defender of the d4-square.

Black is in full control of the position. ...Qf6 is the plan!

This position comes from a Queen's gambit, Carlsbard structure. Black has played a6 to momentarily stop the minority attack with b5, and has traded the dark-squared bishops with the g6-Nh5 manoeuvre. To complete the opening success, it is important to trade a key piece for the white attack. How to continue?