Move 2 e6 (white to move)
FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/4p3/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 2
Comment: After a loss to Kramnik in round 3, Bareev decides to play
the more solid French defense. Bareev has been one of the best French Defense proponents for many years (along with England's Nigel Short and the "Swiss" Viktor Korchnoi) .

Move 4 Nf6 (white to move)
FEN: rnbqkb1r/ppp2ppp/4pn2/3p4/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 2 4
Comment: I'm not certain why, but there seem to be fewer recent games with the Winawer Variation (3...Bb4)

Move 5 Nfd7 (white to move)
FEN: rnbqkb1r/pppn1ppp/4p3/3pP3/3P4/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 1 5
Comment: Black is cramped and Pf7 stands out as terribly weak. Black must erase White's central pawns to free his pieces. White needs to support his central dark-square control and somehow transition to an offense against Ke8. This usually involves f2-f4-f5xe6, somewhat as White plays against a Caro-Kann in the Advance Variation.

Move 7 Be3 (black to move)
FEN: r1bqkb1r/pp1n1ppp/2n1p3/2ppP3/3P1P2/2N1BN2/PPP3PP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 3 7
Comment: This is the most common move, though other variations have been used.

Move 9 Bc5 (white to move)
FEN: r1bqk2r/pp1n1ppp/2n1p3/2bpP3/3N1P2/2N1B3/PPP3PP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 1 9
Comment: Black is fighting for control of d4, perhaps aiming to trade some pieces and in some cases hoping to get ...Nd7-c5 to challenge Bf1-d3.

Move 9 Qd2 (black to move)
FEN: r1bqk2r/pp1n1ppp/2n1p3/2bpP3/3N1P2/2N1B3/PPPQ2PP/R3KB1R b KQkq - 2 9
Comment: White defends Be3, prepares O-O-O and maybe considers Nd4-b5 to trade dark-square bishops and then hop Nb5-d6 to disrupt Black's position.

Move 12 Qb6 (white to move)
FEN: r1b1k2r/pp1n1ppp/1q2p3/3pP3/3Q1P2/2N5/PPP3PP/R3KB1R w KQkq - 1 12
Comment: Black hasn't eliminated White's central pawns, but the piece trades should lead to an endgame which is about equal. If White wants more he'll have to avoid the queen trade; one might argue he should have avoided those earlier trades as well.

Move 12 Qd2 (black to move)
FEN: r1b1k2r/pp1n1ppp/1q2p3/3pP3/5P2/2N5/PPPQ2PP/R3KB1R b KQkq - 2 12
Comment: White offers Pb2 and threatens O-O-O to defend Pb2, keep the king safe and control d4 again. Black can't force more minor piece trades and he would be risking quite a lot to try ...f7-f6xe5, so he has to either capture Pb2 and try to survive the aftermath or find some other way to develop pieces before committing his king to either castled position.

Move 14 Nb5 (black to move)
FEN: r1b1k2r/pp1n1ppp/4p3/1N1pP3/5P2/q7/P1PQ2PP/1R2KB1R b Kkq - 3 14
Comment: Sacrificing another pawn to prevent castling!

Move 17 Qb2 (white to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/pp1n1ppp/3Np3/3pP3/5P2/8/1qPQ2PP/3RKB1R w K - 4 17
Comment: It's not terribly appealing to move the queen again, but it probably seemed very important to prevent Qd2-b4 and there's the benefit of the immediate threat ...Nxe5

Move 18 Qb6 (white to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/pp1n1ppp/1q1Np3/3pP3/5P2/8/2PQB1PP/3RK2R w K - 6 18
Comment: Again, it's not appealing to move the queen again, but it's his only good piece for the moment. One could argue that whatever short-term benefits he's gaining from these moves that it doesn't restrain White for long and that Black's other pieces need to be brought into play. I think he might want to play his queen onto the c-file to defend Bc8, so he'd be prepared to play ...a7-a5 and so on. I think it's the inconsistency of the purpose of his plans which gives White a way to causes him problems.

Move 18 c4 (black to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/pp1n1ppp/1q1Np3/3pP3/2P2P2/8/3QB1PP/3RK2R b K - 0 18
Comment: White has a significant
advantage in development . To make best use of this advantage it is very
important to open the position's files and diagonals! White threatens cxd5, but it's not clear if he still wants to find a way to castle or if he will fight with Ke1 and perhaps Rh1-f1.

Move 19 Bf3 (black to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/pp1n1ppp/1q1Np3/4P3/2Pp1P2/5B2/3Q2PP/3RK2R b K - 1 19
Comment: preparing O-O or Ke1-f2-g3 by avoiding 19. Kf2 d3+ 
The Bishop has discovered the most active diagonal! Black's targeted Queen-side,
particularly the b7 pawn, will be an extra bonus.

Move 20 a5 (white to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/1p1n1ppp/1q1Np3/p3P3/2Pp1P2/5B2/3Q2PP/3RK2R w K - 0 20
Comment: It's right about here that Fritz starts realizing White is still equal and should complete his development, though I still have doubts about the idea of ...f7-f6. It certainly is to be considered.

Move 20 O-O (black to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/1p1n1ppp/1q1Np3/p3P3/2Pp1P2/5B2/3Q2PP/3R1RK1 b - - 1 20
Comment: In one move the rook is brought into alignment with Kf8; White's plan hasn't changed much from move five.

Move 22 Qd4 (white to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/1p1n1ppp/3Np3/p3P3/2Pq1P2/3p1B2/3Q2PP/3R1R1K w - - 2 22
Comment: Black knows White doesn't want a queen trade, so he offers Pd3 at that high price. White might use a rook to capture it, but if he could continue the offense without having to spend extra time on that then he'd do so. This is probably THE position which will test Shirov the most. If he can find his way through this and stay on plan then he'll be alright, if he falters he's lost.

Move 22 Nb5 (black to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/1p1n1ppp/4p3/pN2P3/2Pq1P2/3p1B2/3Q2PP/3R1R1K b - - 3 22
Comment: It's hard to say whether this really works or if it's just a "try".

Move 23 Qc5 (white to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/1p1n1ppp/4p3/pNq1P3/2P2P2/3p1B2/3Q2PP/3R1R1K w - - 4 23
Comment: I suspect this is a flinch, but one is sometimes required to make such difficult choices with a clock ticking. It's hard to criticize except it makes his earlier moves (offering a queen trade) irrelevant.

Move 23 Qxd3 (black to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/1p1n1ppp/4p3/pNq1P3/2P2P2/3Q1B2/6PP/3R1R1K b - - 0 23
Comment: Fritz7

Move 24 g6 (white to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/1p1n1p1p/4p1p1/pNq1P3/2P2P2/3Q1B2/6PP/3R1R1K w - - 0 24
Comment: Black has an extra pawn and he's trying to improve his king's safety & develop Rh8 at the same time. White has a couple of moves to prove his piece activity is worth as much or more than Black's Pa5.

Move 24 Nd6 (black to move)
FEN: r1b2k1r/1p1n1p1p/3Np1p1/p1q1P3/2P2P2/3Q1B2/6PP/3R1R1K b - - 1 24
Comment: threatening Pb7 or perhaps to remove the defender of Nd7

Move 27 Qc7 (white to move)
FEN: r1b4r/1pq2pkp/1n1Np1p1/pR2P3/2P2P2/3Q1B2/6PP/5R1K w - - 6 27
Comment: Fritz7

Move 27 Qd4 (black to move)
FEN: r1b4r/1pq2pkp/1n1Np1p1/pR2P3/2PQ1P2/5B2/6PP/5R1K b - - 7 27
Comment: If White can squeeze Black's army back then it won't be able to support the advance of Pa5 and White would have more time to threaten at several points. At the moment Nb6 is threatened, but c4-c5 could also be used to keep the central squares in White's hands and to keep the d-file closed. Black would be foolhardy to play ...f7-f6 to try to weaken Nd6. It would only expose his king to renewed threats.

Move 28 Nd7 (white to move)
FEN: r1b4r/1pqn1pkp/3Np1p1/pR2P3/2PQ1P2/5B2/6PP/5R1K w - - 8 28
Comment: After this Fritz7 sees ways to win material based on the threats at b7 & d7. Shirov finds another weakness to threaten too.

Move 28 f5 (black to move)
FEN: r1b4r/1pqn1pkp/3Np1p1/pR2PP2/2PQ4/5B2/6PP/5R1K b - - 0 28
Comment: Wow! It's not entirely unusual, but every time one sees a sacrifice like this it's quite surprising. If ...exf5 then e5-e6+ would be strong. If ...gxf5 then the g-file is open and Kg7 is in severe danger. Notice, too, that Black only has two pieces, aside from Kg7, developed off the back rank.
If we look at the position carefully, we discover that certain
combinational motifs are possible. These themes can be provoked by the
weakening of the dark squares near the Black king and undeveloped Queen side.

Move 31 Ne5 (white to move)
FEN: r1b4r/1pq2pkp/4P3/pR2np2/2PQ4/5B2/6PP/5R1K w - - 1 31
Comment: Black is trying to stop the attack by trading-off White's attacking pieces.

Move 31 Rxe5 (black to move)
FEN: r1b4r/1pq2pkp/4P3/p3Rp2/2PQ4/5B2/6PP/5R1K b - - 0 31
Comment: threat: Re5-c5+ to win Qc7

Move 32 Rxf5 (black to move)
FEN: r1b4r/1pq3kp/4Pp2/p4R2/2PQ4/5B2/6PP/5R1K b - - 0 32
Comment: material is returned to equal and White threatens Qxf6+, mating

Move 33 Bd5 (black to move)
FEN: r1b2r2/1pq3kp/4Pp2/p2B1R2/2PQ4/8/6PP/5R1K b - - 2 33
Comment: This simply locks out Black's Bc8, so White can attack on the f-, g- and h-files without hindrance.

Move 35 Be4 (black to move)
FEN: r1b2r1k/1p2q2p/4Pp2/p6R/2PQB3/8/6PP/5R1K b - - 6 35
Comment: and White breaks through at h7!

Move 38 Qe4+ (black to move)
FEN: r4r2/1p5k/4bp2/p7/2P1Q3/8/6PP/5R1K b - - 1 38
Comment: winning Be6 and bringing to a close Black's effort to keep his king safe by trading queens