Move 2 Nf6 (white to move)
FEN: rnbqkb1r/pppppppp/5n2/8/3P4/8/PPP1PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 1 2
Comment: These two have played a couple of terrific games in recent events, so this one could be interesting too.

Move 2 Nf3 (black to move)
FEN: rnbqkb1r/pppppppp/5n2/8/3P4/5N2/PPP1PPPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 2 2
Comment: Why would Karpov play this move? It usually initiates a Colle System (e2-e3, Bf1-d3) , Torre Attack (Bc1-g5) or London System (Bc1-f4) and Karpov doesn't generally play any of those. I suppose he wants to see if Polgar intends to play a particular set-up or will reconsider over the board and perhaps play another set-up.

Move 3 c4 (black to move)
FEN: rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/4pn2/8/2PP4/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 0 3
Comment: Now they're back to "normal" territory which their other recent games have followed. Now the question is whether Karpov will continue in a Classical way or try the Catalan (g2-g3, Bf1-g2) .

Move 4 b6 (white to move)
FEN: rnbqkb1r/p1pp1ppp/1p2pn2/8/2PP4/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 4
Comment: Ironically it's this Queen's Indian Defense which Karpov himself has championed which is giving him problems (at least against Polgar) .

Move 4 a3 (black to move)
FEN: rnbqkb1r/p1pp1ppp/1p2pn2/8/2PP4/P4N2/1P2PPPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 0 4
Comment: This is a move Kasparov has championed and brought out of obscurity, though it was (I think) originated by Petrosian (one of Kasparov's chessic heroes) . The idea is to be able to play Nb1-c3 without facing ...Bf8-b4 (again a move Karpov likes) .

Move 6 d5 (white to move)
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pbp2ppp/1p2pn2/3p4/2PP4/P1N2N2/1P2PPPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 6
Comment: Without ...Bf8-b4 Black has to use the central pawn to prevent White from taking complete control of the center. Without some central control (a fair share) one's position can be cramped and lateral movements become much more difficult.

Move 6 cxd5 (black to move)
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pbp2ppp/1p2pn2/3P4/3P4/P1N2N2/1P2PPPP/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 0 6
Comment: This, instead of e2-e3, leaves open the option of Bc1-f4 or Bc1-g5; though one of those moves could be played immediately and Pc4 left to be defended indirectly by Qd1-a4+xc4. Perhaps he wants to see what specific set-up Black will choose (...Nxd4 or ...exd5) before committing his position further.

Move 7 Nxd5 (white to move)
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pbp2ppp/1p2p3/3n4/3P4/P1N2N2/1P2PPPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 7
Comment: In the Ponomariov-Kramnik game of round two this same question came up and I criticized Kramnik for not recapturing at d5 with a pawn. In this game I don't see things the same way because Black already has Bb7 and control of e4 will be retained by Black for a few moves. Black simply refuses to allow White to take full control of the center and White's only attempt to gain the advantage probably lies in taking advantage of the weak e5 to threaten Ke8 and/or to advance f2-f3, e2-e4.

Move 9 h6 (white to move)
FEN: rn1qkb1r/pbp2pp1/1p2p2p/8/3P4/P1Q2N2/1P2PPPP/R1B1KB1R w KQkq - 0 9
Comment: This prevents Bc1-g5 and ...Bf8-d6 can guard square f4 to prevent Bc1-f4 from gaining any lasting advantage. Usually you don't see a top GM playing this kind of extra pawn move early-on in a game. It certainly shows she's thinking for herself and not just playing stereotypical moves.

Move 10 b4 (black to move)
FEN: r2qkb1r/pbpn1pp1/1p2p2p/8/1P1P4/P1Q1PN2/5PPP/R1B1KB1R b KQkq - 0 10
Comment: Fritz7 doesn't even mention this, liking Bf1-b5 or Bf1-e2 better. So, Bc1 might well be developed to b2. This looks like a concession by White, but in light of a game played by these two contestants in a previous event it makes great sense. Polgar played the Tarrasch Defense and showed a great willingness to take on open positions; here he stops ...c7-c5. Where will Black find offensive play; on the king-side I think, where Bb7 is "aimed".

Move 11 Be7 (white to move)
FEN: r2qk2r/pbpnbpp1/1p2p2p/8/1P1P4/P1Q1PN2/5PPP/R1B1KB1R w KQkq - 1 11
Comment: Black is prepared to play ...c7-c5 and meet dxc5 with ...Bf6.

Move 13 a5 (white to move)
FEN: r2q1rk1/1bpnbpp1/1p2p2p/p7/1P1P4/P1Q1PN2/1B3PPP/3RKB1R w K - 0 13
Comment: to wing, if not to cripple White, making certain Pb4 is as weak as Pc7. It also helps to clarify the queen-side a bit.

Move 14 Rc8 (white to move)
FEN: 2rq1rk1/1bpnbpp1/1p2p2p/pP6/3P4/P1Q1PN2/1B3PPP/3RKB1R w K - 1 14
Comment: After this Fritz7 thought a while and suddenly all his variations went negative (good for Black) .

Move 14 Qb3 (black to move)
FEN: 2rq1rk1/1bpnbpp1/1p2p2p/pP6/3P4/PQ2PN2/1B3PPP/3RKB1R b K - 2 14
Comment: White prepares Nf3-e5 when the alignment of Rd1 with Qd8 makes it impossible for Black to break that bind. Black is also apparently unwilling to play ...Bxf3 since after gxf3 the square c6 would be severely weakened and with Rh1-g1 White would be ready to pounce on Pg7 and Kg8. So, Black fights the central bind and expects to succeed because White has yet to spend any moves on preparing O-O.

Move 16 Bb5 (black to move)
FEN: 2rq1rk1/3nbpp1/1pb1p2p/pB6/3P4/PQ2PN2/1B3PPP/3RK2R b K - 1 16
Comment: This is certainly consistent with the plan to bind Black in the center, using pieces if not pawns, but there's a small flaw.

Move 17 Bb4+ (white to move)
FEN: 2rq1rk1/3n1pp1/1pb1p2p/pB6/1b1P4/PQ2PN2/1B3PPP/3RK2R w K - 2 17
Comment: White still has Ke1 and Black uses that to some effect!

Move 18 Bxb5 (white to move)
FEN: 2rq1rk1/3n1pp1/1p2p2p/pb6/1P1P4/1Q2PN2/1B3PPP/3RK2R w K - 0 18
Comment: Now Ke1 can't O-O, so even if Black has to gambit a pawn there is compensation; and Karpov isn't one to allow his king to stay in the open for long (or allow Rh1 to remain out of play) .

Move 19 Bc4 (white to move)
FEN: 2rq1rk1/3n1pp1/1p2p2p/P7/2bP4/1Q2PN2/1B3PPP/3RK2R w K - 1 19
Comment: There's the stinger in this combination; Pa5 will be reclaimed AND Ke1 is still stuck in the center. The White central bind is only a memory.

Move 20 Qd6 (black to move)
FEN: 2rq1rk1/3n1pp1/3Qp2p/p7/2bP4/4PN2/1B3PPP/3RK2R b K - 1 20
Comment: Karpov is seeking refuge in a queen trade, not unlike Capablanca who was Karpov's chessic hero.

Move 21 Bb5 (white to move)
FEN: 2rq1rk1/3n1pp1/3Qp2p/pb6/3P4/4PN2/1B3PPP/3RK2R w K - 2 21
Comment: Black plays for an immediate invasion of ...Rc8-c2-e2+ (not to mention the threat to Bb2) and by defending Nd7 she allows Qd8 to move freely.

Move 23 Qc8 (white to move)
FEN: 2q2rk1/3n1pp1/3Qp2p/pb1P4/8/4PN2/1BrR1PPP/4K2R w K - 3 23
Comment: avoiding any possibility of a queen trade and going straight for Ke1

Move 24 Kxd2 (black to move)
FEN: 2q2rk1/3n1pp1/4p2p/pb1P4/8/Q3PN2/1B1K1PPP/7R b - - 0 24
Comment: Ordinarily Nf3xd2 would be played, but in this desperate situation he tries to bring Rh1 into play.

Move 25 Nb6 (white to move)
FEN: 2q2rk1/5pp1/1n2p2p/pb1P4/8/Q3PN2/1B1K1PPP/7R w - - 1 25
Comment: threatening ...Nc4+

Move 27 e5 (white to move)
FEN: 2q2rk1/5pp1/7p/pb1Pp3/2n5/2Q1PN2/1BK2PPP/7R w - - 0 27
Comment: This completely ties up White. Pe5 prevents Nf3-d4 and White's army can't support Pd5, so Black's continued threats to White's king and passed Pa5 are clearly superior.

Move 28 Qg4 (white to move)
FEN: 5rk1/5pp1/7p/pb1Pp3/2n3q1/2Q1PN2/1B3PPP/1K5R w - - 2 28
Comment: threatening either ...Qxg2 or ...Qe4+

Move 30 f6 (white to move)
FEN: 1r4k1/6p1/5p1p/pb1Pp3/2n3q1/2Q1PN2/1BR2PPP/1K6 w - - 0 30
Comment: White has defended his king, so Black secures Pe5 and has White completely bottled up. Pd5 looks like a weak link, though Pg2 might also be good to grab. Even more direct though is ...Bb5-a4 to continue going directly at Kb1. One threatens to win the king, which is already fairly well defended, and the other to win a pawn or two. Both are good.

Move 32 Qh1+ (white to move)
FEN: 1r4k1/6p1/3P1p1p/pb2p3/2n5/2Q1P3/1BRN1P1P/1K5q w - - 2 32
Comment: I like this combining of the pawn grab with the attack on Kb1. It can be defensively difficult to guard against attacks from several different directions at one time.

Move 33 Nxd6 (white to move)
FEN: 1r4k1/6p1/3n1p1p/pb2p3/8/2Q1P3/KBRN1P1P/7q w - - 0 33
Comment: Capturing Bb2 would be terrible because Rc2xb2 would then pin Bb5.

Move 33 Qc5 (black to move)
FEN: 1r4k1/6p1/3n1p1p/pbQ1p3/8/4P3/KBRN1P1P/7q b - - 1 33
Comment: He was either in time pressure or just overlooked the reply.

Move 34 Rc8 (white to move)
FEN: 2r3k1/6p1/3n1p1p/pbQ1p3/8/4P3/KBRN1P1P/7q w - - 2 34
Comment: If 34. Qxd6 Rxc2 35. Qb8+ Kh7 36. Qxb5 Rxd2 and White simply runs out of material.