Download PGN of October ’25 d-Pawn Specials games
The Trompowsky: 2...Ne4 3 h4 d5 4 Nd2 Nd6 [A45]
Congratulations are due to Kacper Piorun on winning both the recent Polish Rapid and Blitz Championships. As well as his solving prowess, Piorun has also been one of the leading exponents of 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 h4, so it was fascinating to see him having to face 3 h4 in the earlier event. He plumped for 3...d5 4 Nd2 Nd6!?, possibly in a bid to get his lower-rated opponent out of book.
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After 5 e3 Bf5 I still quite like 6 g4!? for White, but 6 Ngf3 was preferred in Strzalkowski, D - Piorun, K, where White still obtained an edge before allowing Black to equalise.
The Trompowsky: 2...d5 3 Bxf6 exf6 4 c4 g6 [D00]
Inspired by Gawain Jones recommending it, 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 g6 remains fairly trendy for Black, and if the critical 3 Bxf6 exf6 4 c4 then 4...d5 5 cxd5 Qxd5:
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After 6 Nc3 Black has a few options, but 6...Qd8 is sensible and likely best, offering Black decent chances to emerge with comfortable equality after 7 g3 f5, as was the case in Badelka, O - Tsolakidou, S.
The London: 2...e6 3 e3 b6 4 Qf3 [A45]
Beginning with 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 e6 3 e3 can give White some extra options compared to the standard Nf3 lines, not least 3...b6 4 Qf3!?, which still looks quite a decent weapon:
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After 4...d5 we’ve tended to focus on 5 Nc3, but 5 Nd2!? was preferred in Sorensen, H - Ertan, C, where Black was able to equalise with 5...Bd6 6 Bb5+ c6 7 Bd3 Ba6!.
The London: 2...Nf6 3 Nf3 e6 4 e3 c5 5 c3 Nc6 6 Bd3 Be7 [D02]
After 1 d4 d5 2 Bf4 Nf6 3 e3 e6 4 Nf3 Be7 5 Bd3 c5 6 c3 Nc6 it’s often been considered that White should deploy the prophylactic 7 h3 to retain the London bishop. However, it’s also possible to go 7 Nbd2 Nh5 8 Be5:
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Black has a fairly wide choice here, but 8...Nxe5 9 Nxe5 Nf6 feels a little compliant and soon led after 10 Qf3 to White obtaining handy kingside pressure in Lu Miaoyi - Schippke, M.
The London: 2...Nf6 3 Nf3 e6 4 e3 c5 5 c3 Nc6 6 Nbd2 cxd4 7 exd4 Nh5 [D02]
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bf4 d5 4 Nbd2 is a slightly unusual move order, but after 4...c5 5 e3 Nc6 6 c3 we’re back in a fairly standard position where 6...cxd4 7 exd4 Nh5 remains a fairly critical test. These days 8 Be3 tends to be seen and 8...Bd6 9 Bb5!?, as pioneered by Alireza Firouzja, is a recent trend:
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White prepares both Ne5 and 0-0, and went on to win a rather brutal meister-gegen-amateur affair in Maghsoodloo, P - Nemec, J.
The Torre Attack: 3...e6 4 e3 h6 5 Bh4 Be7 6 Nbd2 [D03]
Following 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bg5 Be7 4 Nbd2 h6 5 Bh4 a classically-orientated opponent might opt for 5...d5 when 6 e3 b6 7 c3 0-0 8 Bd3 reaches something of a crossroads:
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Black needs counterplay so 8...c5 is indicated, unlike 8...Bb7 9 Bxf6! Bxf6 10 h4!, which saw White making early inroads on the kingside, ahead of later launching a dangerous piece sacrifice in Nihal, S - Delgerdalai, B.
The Jobava-Prié Attack: 3...e6 4 e3 a6 [D00]
There are still many players happy to regularly wheel out 1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bf4 when 3...e6 4 e3 a6 remains fairly popular for Black. Previously we’ve looked at both 5 g4 and 5 h4, and I’m somewhat less keen here on 5 Qf3:
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Black should immediately and consistently go 5...b5! when it’s not so clear what White should do, while 5...c5 6 0-0-0? was really asking for 6...b5 in Paikidze, N - Lee, A.
Will we have more positional masterpieces and early attacks to enjoy again next month?
Until then, Richard
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