Download PGN of May ’22 d-Pawn Specials games
The Trompowsky: 2...Ne4 3 Bf4 c5 4 f3 Nf6 [A45]
Not everyone meets 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 Bf4 c5 4 f3 with the theoretically-approved 4...Qa5+, with 4...Nf6 still attracting some attention. As we’ve seen many times before, while there’s nothing at all wrong with 5 d5, 5 dxc5 must be critical, as arguably here is 5...b6!?:
             |
A well-prepared white player shouldn’t be too unhappy after 6 e4, in contrast to which 6 c6? Nxc6 7 e4 rather smelt of panic in Vereggen, L - Chatalbashev, B, which Black went on to win in determined attacking fashion.
The Trompowsky: 2...c5 3 Bxf6 gxf6 4 d5 Qb6 [A45]
Very unbalanced positions also arise after 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 c5 3 Bxf6 gxf6 4 d5 Qb6 when 5 Nd2!? remains in need of some testing. Normal, of course, is 5 Qc1, but after 5...f5 6 c4 we’ve tended to focus on Black’s two main moves, 6...Bg7 and 6...Bh6. There’s also 6...Qh6!? 7 e3 e5 8 Nc3 d6 9 Qc2:
|
|
This is a fairly standard set-up from White, but is the black queen well-placed or misplaced here? Vlasenko, M - Sychev, K suggests that Black’s rare idea is a playable one in what became another brutal attacking display.
The London, Jobava-Prié Attack: 2...g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 e3 Bg7 5 h4 [A45]
The modern handling of the London with 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 shows no signs of going away and after 2...g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 e3 Bg7 5 h4 we’re into a fascinating and important variation. After 5...0-0 6 h5 c5 7 hxg6 Black plumped for 7...hxg6 in Munkhdalai, A - Batsuren, D.
|
|
Nigel Short once played 8 Qd2 Nc6 9 Nge2, which is recommended in Simon Williams’s upcoming Jobava-Prié opening repertoire for Everyman Chess. The alternative is 8 Nf3 when 8...Qb6 quickly became rather critical in our encounter from the Mongolian Championship.
The London: 2...c5 3 e3 [A45]
After 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 c5 I would still do something with my d-pawn, but, of course, 3 e3 is the move that many London players would prefer to make work. One issue is 3...Qb6 (do know your theory if you decided to play out a draw in this line; even some quite strong players have bungled the move order, as we’ll see), another 3...Nd5, but after 4 Bg3 Qb6 I’m rather liking 5 c4!?:
|
|
This quickly turned out very well for White in Praggnanandhaa, R - Yoo, C until he opted for the wrong way to try and snare a black queen on a1.
The London: 2...g6 3 Nf3 Bg7 4 e3 0-0 5 h3 [A48]
After 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 Bf4 Bg7 a number of closely related but subtly different set-ups for White are still seen, including 4 e3 0-0 5 h3. Play may continue 5...d6 6 Be2 b6 7 0-0 Bb7 8 a4:
|
|
Here 8...a5!? is Gawain Jones’s recent recommendation, while 8...a6 quickly led to a lengthy manoeuvring battle in Kukov, V - Kamsky, G.
The Torre Attack: 2...e6 3 Bg5 c5 [A46]
Did you imagine that after 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bg5 c5 we’d only be looking at 4 e3? That would normally be a good shout, but is wrong on this occasion! First we take a look at 4 d5!? exd5:
|
|
Here Daniil Dubov took on f6, but the more restrained 5 e3 was seen in Polak, T - Stohl, I, which contains much to be interested in, while also carrying all the hallmarks of a Sunday morning encounter.
There’s also 4 e4!?. Yes, really!
|
|
Black quickly found herself never in the game after 4...Qa5+?! 5 Qd2 in Matlakov, M - Kosteniuk, A, but 4...cxd4 5 e5 h6 seems to be fine, in what is a kind of Trompowsky and Torre hybrid.
Will there be more new ground to uncover next month?
Until then, Richard
>> Previous Update >>