Game of the Week : Mathieu Cloutier vs Daniel Pomerantz (Montreal Chess Club)

[Event "Mercredi 2014.11.19 ABCDEF"]
[Site "Montreal CAN"]
[Date "2014.12.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Cloutier, Mathieu"]
[Black "Pomerantz, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "1992"]
[BlackElo "1930"]
[Annotator "Doe,John"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2014.11.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 {A move that
seems to be becoming increasingly popular} (6... e6 {Would have lead to the
well-known Sozin variation}) 7. Nb3 {White had many other options :} (7. Nxc6
bxc6 8. O-O g6 {Is quite common, although Black usually does fine in these
lines thanks to its consolidated center}) (7. Be3 $2 Qxb2 8. Ndb5 Qb4 {And it
is hard for White to justify the sacrificed pawn}) (7. Nde2 e6) 7... e6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Be2 {An unusual move, but not completely unsound. The bishop does not
accomplish much on c4 and cannot retreat in b3 anymore.} (9. Be3 Qc7 10. f4 a6
{Is the main variation}) 9... O-O 10. Qd3 {At this point Black should have
carefully thought about White's last two moves. White retreated its bishop and
moved its queen, losing two precious tempi. How could Black try to punish
White for this?} a6 {While a6 is usually a good move in such positions, Black
should realize that White is going for its throat and that this move may be a
little bit too slow...} ({In most Sicilians, playing d5 should be one of
Black's principal plans :} 10... d5 $1 11. exd5 Nb4 12. Qg3 Bd6 13. Bf4 Bxf4
14. Qxf4 Nbxd5 {And Black has a good game, although its bishop will need to be
activated quickly.}) ({Also strong was :} 10... Rd8 $1 11. Qg3 d5) 11. Qg3 Nb4
12. Bh6 Ne8 13. Be3 Qc7 {While Black is by no means lost, it will be really
hard for him to activate his pieces and get counterplay, whereas White has an
easy attacking plan.} 14. Rac1 b5 15. f4 Bb7 16. a3 $5 {This move seems
somewhat inconsistent with White's previous moves. It seemed clear that White
wanted to attack Black at all cost, even if it implied some risks. However, by
playing a3, White allows Black to bring back one of its knight closer to the
center, where it could help defending. The move in itself is not bad, but it
seems to indicate that White was not quite sure about the plan to adopt.} (16.
f5 {The computer does not quite like this move, as with optimal play Black
should be fine. However, this gives White huge practical chances. The only
correct defense is :} Bf6 $1 17. Nd4 Nc6 18. Nf3) 16... Nc6 $5 {This move
seems somewhat inconsistent with White's previous moves. It seemed clear that
White wanted to attack Black at all cost, even if it implied some risks.
However, by playing a3, White allows Black to bring back one of its knight
closer to the center, where it could help defending. The move in itself is not
bad, but it seems to indicate that White was not quite sure about the plan to
adopt.} 17. Bf3 Bf6 18. e5 $6 {Clearly, this plan would have been stronger if
the knight was alone in b4.} ({White could have tried to take advantage of the
fact that Black has pretty much no useful move to play :} 18. Rcd1 Rc8 {And
now White can play} 19. e5) 18... dxe5 19. Ne4 {The position is now really
difficult to evaluate. White has well coordinated pieces and a strong attack,
but should it fail Black could suddenly have a very solid position.} Be7 $5 (
19... Ne7 $1 {A great resource for Black! It now threatens to exchange a lot
of pieces and to gain control of the f5 square.} 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. Bxb7 Qxb7
22. fxe5 Nf5 {And Black may suddenly be better}) 20. Nbc5 Nf6 $2 (20... Nd6 $1
{With again the idea of Nf5 and exchanging minor pieces.}) 21. fxe5 Nxe4 22.
Bxe4 Rfd8 $4 {Comptely ignoring White's threats.} (22... Nd4 $1 23. Bxd4 (23.
Nxb7 Ne2+) 23... Bxc5 24. Qc3 Bxd4+ 25. Qxd4 Rfd8 {And Black is slightly better
}) 23. Nxb7 Qxb7 24. Qf3 {Black has no way to defend both f7 and c6 and his
position is now hopeless} Rac8 25. Qxf7+ Kh8 26. Qh5 g6 27. Bxg6 Bf8 28. Rf7
1-0