TWIC THEORY

Tuesday 22nd February, 2005

TROMPOWSKY ATTACK
BLACK GETS CREATIVE
(Photo – John Henderson)

Andrew Martin is an International Master, and National Coach. Currently professional coach
and author. Recent books include: King's Indian Battle Plans, The Essential Centre-Counter,
Starting Out - The Sicilian Dragon. Recent DVDs for ChessBase include: The ABC of the Ruy
Lopez, The ABC of the King's Indian, Winning Tips. Andrew is 47 Years old, married with 4
children and lives in Sandhurst, England.

Kallai,Gabor (2505) - Sherzer,Alex (2470) [A45]

HUN-chT 9899 HUN, 1998

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 e6!?

Your average Trompowsky player tends to like original and interesting games, usually strictly on
his or her own terms. If Black can turn the tables early and hit with a new idea, then the
psychological advantage passes.
Which brings me to 3...e6!?, an odd and unusual move, developed by Grandmaster Alex Sherzer
in 1994 and which is relegated to a footnote in recent books by Hodgson and Wells. The jury is
still out but to me it looks worth consideration.

4.Nd2

A reply which leads to easy equality for Black. More critical ideas:

4.f3 I think most players will do this when facing 3...e6 for the first time. What could be more
natural? 4...Bd6!

Sherzer's independant contribution. Other moves lose time. 5.Bxd6 Taking the Knight is poor,
moving the Bishop hopeless. 5...Nxd6 6.e4 f5 Consistent. Black hits at the White centre trying to
force a concession.Wells mentions 6 Nc3, but after 6...f5 play will probably transpose: 7.e5 Nf7
8.f4 0–0 9.Nf3

I've stared at this position for some time and I'm still not sure how Black should play it.
There are several ways:

a) Black attacks with 9...d6

b) Black develops the queenside with 9...b6
c) Blocking with 9...d5
d) The simple 9...Qe7

Let's take a look at each.

9...d6 It's appealing to try and break up White's centre immediately before he gets developed.
(9...b6 Less satisfactory I reckon. White should get his pieces out and aim for d4-d5: 10.Bc4 Bb7
11.Nc3 Qe7 12.0–0 Nc6 13.Qe2+/= Unclear, but to me White has the better game.; 9...d5 An
attempt to get a French-like pawn structure, where the follow-up will probably include ..b7-b6 and
c7-c5. 10.Be2 b6 11.0–0 Ba6 12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.Qd3 Qc8 14.c3 c5 15.Nbd2

Flimsy evidence, but Black is OK here too.; 9...Qe7 With the minor threat of ..Qb4+ although
White can deal with that trivially and I'm not totally convinced that Black needs to move his Queen
at this stage: 10.c3 c5 Just an attempt to play it differently. 11.dxc5 Qxc5 12.Qd4 b6 13.Qxc5
bxc5 14.Nbd2 Bb7 15.Rd1± White is better and this position highlights the need for Black to avoid
getting his d pawn nailed down.) 10.c3 c5 11.Nbd2 Nc6
Seems fine for Black.

My conclusion is that 4...Bd6 gives Black a good, fighting game. Yes, the Tromp is a very creative
opening but why shouldn't Black get in on the act?

4.e3 Wells suggest that 4 e3 is a good practical response. White commits to nothing but at the
same time makes a useful move and intends Bd3. We'll consider this in the next game.; 4.Nf3
Finally, this extremely quiet response. White ignores the opportunity for exotic adventures and
keeps his bat very straight. There's not a lot one can do about this so how about 4...d5 5.e3 c5
6.c3 Nc6 and claim that Black is fine. Something similar happens in our featured game where
Sherzer encounters no opening difficulties whatsoever.

4...Nxd2! 5.Qxd2 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.e3 0–0 9.a3 Nc6 10.c4

The only way to give White even the ghost of a nibble. Maybe he threatens b4 and c5 now, with
a Queenside pawn majority, so Sherzer stops it dead.

10...a5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Bd3 h6 13.0–0 Bg4 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Re8 16.Bg3 a4=
One pawn fixes two; a good deal for Black.

It really is difficult to see anyone winning this game now, but that is precisely what Black goes on
to do.

You'd think the IQP gives White whatever edge is going but Black is very active.

17.h3 Bd7 18.Rac1 b6 19.Be2 Bc6 20.Bf3 Qf6 21.Qc3 Qxc3 22.Rxc3 Rad8 23.Rfc1 Bb5
24.Rxc5

Well... I am not sure how to annotate this move. Let's just say that there was no need to give up
the exchange. Maybe he had to win at all cost.

Kallai has a pawn, a safe King and Black's loose pawn structure as compensation but winning
chances against best defence... I don't think so.

24...bxc5 25.Rxc5 Bc4 26.Bc7 Rc8 27.Bg4 Ra8 28.Ba5 g6 29.Bc3 h5 30.Bd1 Reb8 31.g4 h4!

This pawn could be very annoying for White as the game goes on. To attack h4, the Bishop has
to part company with b2.

32.Bf3

I think I prefer 32.Bf6 Kf8 33.g5 Re8 34.Bd4 Re6 35.Bg4 Re7 with White holding the initiative but
no real winning chances.

32...Rc8! 33.Bxd5 Rxc5 34.Bxa8 Bd5 35.Bxd5 Rxd5

White's Queenside gives cause for concern, despite the two extra pawns. Black needs to get his
King in.

36.Kg2 Rd1 37.Bf6 Rd2 38.Kf3 Kf8 39.Bc3 Rc2 40.Bf6 Ke8 41.Bc3 Kd7 42.Bf6 Ke6 43.Bc3
Rc1 44.Bd2 Rh1 45.Bc3 Rg1 46.e4 Rd1 47.g5 Rg1 48.Bd2 Kd6 49.Be3 Ke5

He finally made it to the centre. Zugzwang possibilities arise as the White Bishop becomes
further tied down.
50.Bd2 Kd4 51.Bc3+ Kd3 52.Bf6 Rh1 53.Bc3 Rg1 54.Bf6 Re1!

That is Zugzwang.

55.e5

55.Bg7 Rxe4 56.Bf6 Rc4 57.Be7 Kc2 58.Bf6 Rc6 59.Bg7 Rb6 60.Kg4 Rxb2 61.Bxb2 Kxb2
62.Kxh4 Kxa3–+ illustrates Black's overall winning technique.

55...Rg1 56.Be7 Kd4 57.Bf6 Kd5 58.Kf4 Ke6 0–1

Very nice indeed!

Black's Rook proceeds to the queenside and takes everything.

This game and the notes imply that only 4 e3 can trouble Black. Let's see if this is really the case.

Roitman,Leonid - Mingachev,M (2335) [A45]

EYb14, Budva YUG (6), 2003

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 d5 4.e3 e6

Transposing.

5.Bd3 Bd6

Dubbed 'the most sense' by Peter Wells and he knows what he is talking about. He mentions 6
Bxe4 Bxf4! 7 exf4 dxe4 8 Nc3 Nc6! 9 Nge2 f5 and 6 Bxd6 Qxd6 or 6...Nxd6 as good for Black -
there's not much left if White wants to try for the advantage!

6.Ne2

6.Nf3 Bxf4 7.exf4 Qd6 8.Nbd2 Qxf4 9.g3 Qd6 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Bxe4 Nd7!? (Why not 11...Qb4+!
Looks like Black lost his bottle. 12.Qd2 Qxb2 13.0–0 Qa3! (13...0–0? is the trap to avoid:
14.Bxh7+ Kxh7 15.Qd3+ Kg8 16.Rfb1+-) 14.Rfb1 c6 15.Ne5 0–0
White has compensation for sure but a patient defender would be happy with Black and could
hope to tough it out.) 12.Qe2=

Seems like a reasonable Caro/Scandinavian-like position for Black. The simplification helps the
player with less space and the value of g3 isn't immediately apparent. 12...Nf6 (12...0–0 13.0–0–0
c5 14.Rhe1 Rb8) 13.0–0–0 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Qd5 15.Qxd5 exd5 16.Rhe1+ Be6 17.Ng5 Kd7 18.Re5
Rae8 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.f4+/= This position is a bit painful.

Black must sit and watch. 20...Rhf8 21.Rde1 c6 22.Kd2 Rf5 23.h4 Rxe5 24.Rxe5 b6 25.Ke3 Rf8
26.Rh5 h6 27.g4 Ke7 28.Re5 Kd6 29.f5 Rf6 30.h5 Ke7 31.Kf4 Kf7 32.b4 exf5 33.gxf5 Rd6
34.Re3 Kf6 35.Rg3 Kf7 36.Ke5 Rd7 37.Rg6 Re7+ 38.Re6 Rxe6+ 39.fxe6+ Ke7 40.b5 cxb5
41.Kxd5 1–0 Mikhalevski,V-Matikozian,A/Gufeld Memorial, Burbank USA 2003

6.Bxe4

6...0–0 7.Bxe4
Both 7 c4 and 7 0–0 come strongly into contention as candidate moves. Wells mentions both and
likes White. I expand on his analysis with the help of Deep Fritz and claim that Black is OK if he
aims for a quick ..c7-c5:

7.c4 c5 8.cxd5 (8.Bxe4 dxe4 9.Nbc3 f5 10.0–0 Nc6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6÷) 8...exd5 9.Bxd6 Qxd6
10.Bxe4 dxe4 11.Nbc3 Re8 12.Ng3 cxd4 13.Qxd4 Qxd4 14.exd4 Nc6÷; 7.0–0 c5 8.Bxd6 (8.Bxe4
dxe4 9.Nbc3 f5 10.Nb5 Bxf4 11.Nxf4 a6 12.Nc3 cxd4 13.Qxd4 Qxd4 14.exd4 Nc6 15.Rad1 Nxd4
16.Rxd4 e5=) 8...Qxd6 9.Bxe4 dxe4 10.Nd2 f5 11.c3 b6 unclear

7...dxe4 8.Bxd6 cxd6 9.Nd2 d5 10.0–0 Nc6 11.b3 b6 12.c4 Ba6=

What White did was pretty spineless and we have reached an equal position where only Black
has the potential to be better. There is the definite prospect of play, either on the c file on or the
Kingside after ...f7-f5.White lacks an active plan.

13.Rc1 Na5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.b4 Nc4 16.Nxc4 Bxc4 17.Re1 f5 18.Nc3

18.Nf4 Qd6 19.a3 a5 20.Rb1 axb4 21.axb4 Ra2 is unappetizing.

18...Rf6 19.Qd2 Qd6 20.Nd1 Raf8

Black marshalls his forces for an imminent attack. White really is passive.

21.Nb2 Rh6 22.g3 Bb5 23.a4 Bd7

Once Black organizes ...f5-f4, the Bishop will become very 'good'

24.b5 g5! 25.Nd1 f4!

You know how it is. With White you worry terribly about being mated and will probably handle
this position terribly too! Black has the 'force' with him and is enjoying every moment.

26.exf4 gxf4 27.Nc3 Qe6 28.h4

28.Qa2 Qh3 29.f3 fxg3–+; 28.f3 fxg3! 29.fxe4 Rg6! 30.Re2 Qh3 31.Rg2 Rf2–+

28...Rg6 29.Ne2 e3

Dreadful business.

30.Nxf4 exd2 31.Nxe6 dxe1Q+ 32.Rxe1 Rxe6 0–1

Summarizing, I think that 3...e6!? is little-known and well playable. You have enough information
here to set you on your way.

Vandevoort,P (2379) - Hausrath,D (2452) [A45]

TCh-BEL 2003-4 Belgium BEL (8), 01.02.2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 d5 5.Bd3 Bd6 6.Bxd6 Nxd6 7.Nd2 Nd7 8.Ngf3 b6 9.0–0 Bb7
10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Ne4 12.Nb3 Qe7 13.a4 0–0 14.a5 f5 15.a6 Bc6 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.c4 c5
18.Ne2 Bc6 19.f3 dxc4 20.Bxc4 Rad8 21.Qc2 Nd2 22.Rfd1 Nxc4 23.Qxc4 Bd5 24.Qf4 g5 25.Qg3
Kh8 26.Rac1 h5 27.h4 Rg8 28.hxg5 Rxg5 29.Qh3 Qg7 30.Nf4 Rg8 31.Kf2 Qxe5 32.Rd2 R8g7
33.Rh1 Kg8 34.Rh2 Qc7 35.Nxh5 Rxh5 36.Qxh5 Qg3+ 37.Ke2 Bc4+ 38.Kd1 Bb3+ 39.Ke2 Bc4+
0–1

Varenyk,Mikhail - Erofeev,A (2131) [A45]

5th Kurass Mem Kyiv UKR (9), 26.06.2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 e6 4.f3 Nf6 5.e4 Be7 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.Ne2 cxd4 9.cxd4 Qb6
10.Nbc3 Nxd4 11.Na4 Qb4+ 12.Bd2 Qd6 13.0–0 b5 14.Nac3 0–0 15.Kh1 Nxe2 16.Bxe2 a6
17.Re1 Qb6 18.e5 Ne8 19.Bd3 d5 20.exd6 Nxd6 21.Nd5 exd5 22.Rxe7 Be6 23.Qe1 Nc8 24.Ba5
Qd4 25.Rd1 Qf6 26.Rc7 Nd6 27.Bb4 Rfd8 28.Bc3 Qh6 29.Bb1 Ne8 30.Rc6 Nf6 31.Rd4 Re8
32.Rh4 Bd7 33.Qg3 Qc1+ 34.Be1 Rxe1+ 0–1
Huber,Gr (2219) - Cleto,Sam [A45]
ch-CAN Toronto CAN (3), 22.08.2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 e6 4.f3 Nf6 5.e4 Be7 6.Nc3 Nh5 7.Be3 Bg5 8.Qd2 Bxe3 9.Qxe3 c6
10.Bd3 b5 11.e5 Qh4+ 12.Qf2 Nf4 13.Bf1 Qe7 14.Ne4 0–0 15.Qd2 Nd5 16.Nh3 Ba6 17.c3 Nb6
18.b3 Nc8 19.Bd3 d6 20.Qf4 dxe5 21.dxe5 Nd7 22.0–0 Ncb6 23.Rac1 Nd5 24.Qg3 Ne3 25.Rfe1
Nf5 26.Qf4 h6 27.Ng3 Qc5+ 28.Kh1 Nxg3+ 29.Qxg3 Rfd8 30.Nf2 Nf8 31.Bb1 b4 32.Ng4 Kh8
33.Qf4 bxc3 34.Nxh6 gxh6 35.Qxh6+ Kg8 36.Qg5+ Kh8 37.Re4 Rd4 38.Qh4+ Kg8 39.Rxd4
Qxe5 40.Rg4+ Ng6 41.Bxg6 fxg6 42.Rxg6+ Kf8 43.Rf6+ Ke8 44.Qh8+ Kd7 45.Rf7+ Kd6 46.Rd7+
1–0

Ui Laighleis,G (1996) - Nuritdinova,Elena [A45]

36th Olympiad w Calvia ESP (11), 26.10.2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 e6 4.f3 Nf6 5.e4 c5 6.c3 Qb6 7.Qb3 Qxb3 8.axb3 cxd4 9.cxd4 Nc6
10.Be3 d5 11.e5 Ng8 12.Bb5 Bd7 13.Ne2 Nge7 14.0–0 Nf5 15.Bf2 Be7 16.Nbc3 0–0 17.Rfd1
Rfc8 18.Rac1 a6 19.Bd3 Na5 20.Bc2 g6 21.Ra1 Nc6 22.Na4 Ncxd4 23.Nxd4 Nxd4 24.Bxd4 Bxa4
25.Bxg6 Bxb3 26.Bxf7+ Kxf7 27.Rd3 Bc4 28.Re3 Bc5 29.Bxc5 Rxc5 30.f4 Rb5 31.g4 Rg8 32.h3
d4 33.Rf3 d3 34.Rf2 Rd8 35.Rd2 Bb3 36.f5 Rxe5 37.Rf1 exf5 38.Rxf5+ 0–1

Gordon,S (2284) - Martin,An (2433) [A45]

4NCL West Bromwich ENG (3), 17.01.2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 d5 5.Bd3 b6 6.Ne2 Bb7 7.Nd2 Bd6 8.0–0 0–0 9.Bxd6 Qxd6
10.c3 Nd7 11.f4 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 f5 13.Kh1 c5 ½–½

Peter Wells’s classic work on the Trompowsky.

The accelerated development of the White queen's bishop after 1 d4 Nf6 2

Bg5 was for many years considered a bizarre chess opening, practised only
by a few individual 'eccentric' chessplayers scattered around the globe,
including the Brazilian Octavio Trompowsky, after whom the variation was
named. Then in the 1990s, after a chance discovery, the young English
grandmaster Julian Hodgson started to play it on the UK and international
chess circuit with dramatic success, scoring many short wins with dashing
attacking play. By force of example, the opening then saw a rapid increase
in popularity - to the extent that it is now regarded as 'main line' theory! This
book presents a thorough survey of the development and latest trends in
this exciting opening, together with illustrative games.
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