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14. gxh5
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Unattractive is gxf6 because after Bxf6, black’s bishop is joining the fray. |
 
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14... Ne5
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Polgar sends her other knight into the donnybrook. They are nearly untouchable as white’s g- and h-pawns are too far advanced, and the e-pawn is pinned. Overall, this is a very uncomfortable position for Shirov. |
2 comments
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15. Bf2
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This is almost forced as the bishop is undefended. |
1 comment
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15... Qxg5
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Polgar brings out the big guns to add to the already lethal pressure in the KS. |
2 comments
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16. Na5
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This is the move that essentially loses for white. The logic behind it is straightforward, to drive the bishop from the a8-h1 diagonal, but Shirov has over looked a devastating move at black’s disposal.
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16... Ne3
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In his book “Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking,” Neil McDonald says that a mating attack with two knights is so rare in grandmaster play that it’s excusable that Shirov missed this move. The queen is untouchable because of 17. Qxg5 Nf3#. This type of mate is virtually never seen, so it's quite impressive that Polgar was able to create one. Also, the knight attacks f2, and it will fork the king and rook if it gets there. For Shirov, it's a case of losing his queen, his rook, or being mated. Not a comfortable position for anyone to be in. |
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17. Qg3
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Seeking to minimize the damage. Shirov forks both knights, but the threat is completely benign. |
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17... Qxg3
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Polgar decides that the queens are not needed and she is happy to remove white's most powerful piece. |
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18. Nxg3
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Capturing with the bishop leads to the horrific 18 ...Bxe4 19 Kf2 N3g4+ 20 Ke1 Bxh1, and recapturing with the h-pawn let's black mate on the next move with Nf3#. The knight clears space for the king as well. |
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18... Nxc2+
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Polgar succeeds in pulling off a trick amateurs often fall for. |
2 comments
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19. Kd1
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Seeking to trap the knight after it takes the rook, but Polgar has a plan for that too! |
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19... Nxa1 20. Nxb7
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Shirov is finally able to dispose of the fire-breathing bishop. |
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20... b3
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Polgar succeeds in saving her knight, and will come out of this comfortably up the exchange. |
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21. axb3 Nxb3 22. Kc2
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If he can't capture the knight, he might as well chase it off, and activate his king. The Shirov is no doubt dreading the endgame that will follow, but he's prepared to go down with a fight. |
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22... Nc5
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Another option here was 22 ...Ng4 and after [23 Bg1 Nc5 24 Nxc5 dxc5 [24 ...Rc8? (25 Bxa6 Rc7 26 Bb4+, and white has successfully equalized] 25 Be2 Rg8!, black has a strong attack on the KS. Alternatively, if 23 Bb6 Nc5 24 Nxc5 dxc5, black has a dangerous, albeit isolated, passed pawn, but it has the support of the knight on g4 (after Ne5), the rook on a8 (after Rc8), and the bishop on f8.] The position reached in the game is nearly identical, only with the white bishop on f2 instead of b6 |
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23. Nxc5
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The other option was to take with the bishop, but Shirov correctly decides that keeping the bishop pair is one of the few advantages he has in this position. |
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23... dxc5 24. Be1
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Shirov looks to get his bishop to c3, pinning the knight to the rook. |
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24... Nf3
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Before allowing that to happen, Polgar removes the knight before he becomes tied down. |
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25. Bc3 Nd4+
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A nifty little maneuver by Polgar, blocking the rook, but now it can no longer be taken because it is defended. |
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26. Kd3
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Inadvisable was 26 Bxd4 because of 26 ...cxd4!, and the value of the passed pawn increased by being off the c-file. |
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