After only 13 opening moves, Shirov has a dangerous King-side attack underway. Black's attempts to complicate and slow down the attack with the plans initiated after 14...b5 and 18...Qc8 are refuted by Shirov's aggressive and accurate positional play.

I think Black could have resigned after 21. Bxg4, as his five isolated pawns and weak Queen side pieces are, for the most part, defenseless targets against Shirov's well developed pieces and better positioned pawn majority.

# 2.) Black's fianchetto of his KB looks highly suspect to me. (A study of the database will reveal that 5...a6; probably gives Black a playable game.)

# 3.) White's sixth and seventh moves, were simple, good, and yielded Shirov a sizeable edge. (We were out of book before move ten!)

# 4.) The pin of the Knight by the Bishop (move eight) was probably the wrong plan for Kurajica. *** A strong program (Crafty) gives the following continuation: 9.Bd3, a5!?; 10.0-0, 0-0; 11.Re1, Re8; 12.Qe2, "+/=" 12...Na6; White is solidly better, but Black retains good play ... with perfect play from here, the game is probably drawn.

# 5.) 10...Bxf3?! (?) was clearly a bad idea. White's position becomes very strong - virtually won - after he gains the two Bishops.

# 6.) I have already gotten several e-mails from people who say "the losing move" was 14...b5!? ('?!/?') All I can say is that Black already was in deep kim-chi at this point.

# 7.) Black's 16th move did not help matters much.