Chess - pawn structure

Once again, I am simply going to be using the Guradian Newspaper article as my inspiration today.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/aug/17/luke-mcshane-chess

In its printed form what I found interesting is the move being described as surprising was that it was the move that I jumped to first. Either this means that I am bad at looking for the normal moves or the shape of this position is such that the move should not be surprising.

But what I think is instructive about the position - is if you look at blacks possible Knight moves.

Nc5
Ng8
or
Nf7

all other Knight moves the Knight can simply be taken.

Now look at Ng3. Black's own pawns mean that the only move that the Kinght can make is back to the square it came.

If you look at the squares where Black can break through the pawn line: a4, a5 or breaking through on to g4.

This takes several moves and white can be progressing all the time. This makes White's black bishop seem very powerful.

The thing that you see in GM chess is how difficult it is to pass their pawns. Both players find themselves blockaded in. In this instance the only real way out for Black was the line mentioned in the article. But the idea of giving black a break through is unattractive.

If it wasn't for the exposure of the White King it would be even more clear cut.