Download PGN of May ’25 d-Pawn Specials games
The Trompowsky: 2...Ne4 3 Bf4 c5 4 f3 Qa5+ 5 c3 Nf6 6 d5 e6 [A45]
Levon Aronian has recently met 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 with 2...Ne4 3 Bf4 c5 4 f3 Qa5+ 5 c3 Nf6 6 d5 e6!?, which remains a bit trendy. After 7 e4 exd5 8 exd5 d6 something of a tabiya is reached:
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Here Aronian was quickly in trouble when Wesley So opted for the older 9 Qd2 followed by c3-c4, while the more modern 9 Na3!? was preferred in Fedoseev, V - Aronian, L.
The Trompowsky: 2...Ne4 3 Bf4 d5 4 f3 Nf6 5 Nc3 [A45]
Black can, of course, also meet 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 Bf4 with the solid 3...d5 when 4 f3 Nf6 5 Nc3 is one of White’s sharper approaches. Here there’s no real need to go 5...a6, but after 6 e4 Black should still be OK if he still goes 6...e6. Instead, 6...dxe4?! 7 fxe4 Bg4 gives away the centre and leaves White with a few promising continuations:
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Indeed, White should be clearly better here, but just watch how quickly even such a strong player as Firouzja lost first control and then a highly dramatic game to a 14-year-old Russian FM in Firouzja, A - Akhmedov, D.
The Trompowsky: 2...e6 3 e4 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 Nc3 [A45]
Another line which has been quite topical of late is 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6 3 e4 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 Nc3 when 5...Bb4 used to be considered quite comfortable, but is no longer so popular, partly due to the whims of fashion.
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Instead, we’ll see Veselin Topalov largely avoiding theory with 5...b6 6 e5 Qd8 in Fedoseev, V - Topalov, V, where the legendary Bulgar twice recovered from extremely ropey positions, but wouldn’t be third time lucky.
The old main line was 5...d6 when 6 Qd2 g5 once received Anatoly Karpov’s seal of approval. White often goes 7 0-0-0, but 7 h4!? Bg7 8 hxg5 hxg5 9 Rxh8+ Bxh8 10 e5!? is a tricky alternative:
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Black initially reacts well in Meshkovs, N - Paikens, R, before eventually losing another pretty dramatic game.
The modern choice is 5...d5!?, reaching a position which can also come about via a 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 h6!? 5 Bxf6 Qxf6 move order:
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Are we in the ECO sphere of A45 or C11? I’m unsure, but Trompowsky players who like 5 Nc3 need to know what to do here and after 6 exd5 Bb4 I suspect 7 Bc4!? is better than the 7 Bb5+ of Meshkovs, N - Kulaots, K.
The London: 1..e6 2 Bf4 c5 3 e3 [A40]
Having flirted with C11 territory, we’ll then take a rare step into the realm of A40 by looking at 1 d4 e6 2 Bf4 c5 3 e3. Here Black might, of course, go 3...Nf6 after all, but 3...cxd4 4 exd4 Qb6!? is an independent option, one arguably best met by 5 Nc3! Qxb2 6 Nb5 Bb4+ 7 Ke2!:
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Talk about early chaos! The board is already on fire and I’m grateful to subscriber Malcolm Pein for drawing my attention to the remarkable encounter Xu Xiangyu - Yu Shaoteng.
The London: 1...Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bf4 c5 4 e3 Qb6 [A46]
A related if somewhat more established line is 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bf4 c5 4 e3 Qb6 when 5 Na3! is critical. Here Black is best advised to exchange on d4, since 5...d5 6 Nb5 Na6 7 a4 Be7 8 c3 gives White a handy queenside clamp:
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After 8...0-0 there are a few options for White, including 9 h4!?, with the restrained 9 Be2 preferred in Pham Le Thao Nguyen - Devaev, A.
Let’s hope we have more such entertaining games to enjoy next month!
Until then, Richard
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