Transformation of advantages. The black c-pawn was a weakness but it could not be attacked conveniently. White trades the pawns in order to activate the king and gives him a penetration route.

White needs to play another accurate move. Careful! Can you find it?

A fine and subtle move. Gligoric is not in a hurry. Covering the b5-square, so we stop ...Kb5 after b4+ so Black does not have any counterplay.

3...a5 4.Nc4 +-

4...c5 5.b5 and White is winning. The plan is simple: pushing a5 and a6. Once the pawn arrives at a6, Black is forced to go ...Kc7 to stop b6. Nd5+, followed by Kc4, just kills the game.

Final maneuver: bring the knight to d4, send the black king to f6, and then White is ready to push b5, creating the killer passed pawn on the a-file.

Advantage transformation is one of the most difficult strategical elements to evaluate since it is very painful to get rid of the thing that gives us the advantage, such as a superior piece or passed pawn.

Kramnik gets rid of his powerful bishop and forces Black to decide how to capture. This exchange is very typical in this system.

16...Bxc6 17.d5 Bb7 18.e4 White gets a strong and mobile pawn center and the b7-bishop is completely buried.