Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Wouldn't it be nice to find an easy-to-learn defense against the dreaded Trompowsky? Straightforward chess, no silly irrational positions, the two Bishops and plenty of middlegame prospects. Sounds far too good to be true, but that it precisely what I am proposing in this article.

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6

THE CRITICAL POSITION

Several years ago I made a video that concentrated on practical solutions for Black against all the annoying Queen Pawn openings. The Trompowsky, the Torre Attack, the Stonewall, the Colle, the Blackmar-Diemer were covered and so on. The Trompowsky section was for me one of the simplest. Black should play 2...e6 and 3...h6, first of all obtaining the two Bishops and then he should concentrate on setting up a French-like structure with a quick...d7-d5! 

That was then, this is now. I see no reason to change my mind. In the critical position above, White has played four moves that make sense: 5.Nc3, 5.c3, 5.Qd2 and 5.Nf3. I will show that ...d7-d5 can be played against each of them.

PART ONE: 5.Nc3

Aubervilliers, 2002

5.Nc3 Bb4!

Specifically against 5 Nc3, Black should preface ...d7-d5 with this excellent, pinning move.

6.Qd2

6.Qd3 is a move that has been played by Peter Wells, but again 6...d5! is good: 6...d5 7.exd5 (7.e5 Qd8 8.a3 Be7 =; 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 dxe4 9.Qxc7 0-0 is unclear) 7...exd5 8.Qb5+ Nc6 9.Qxd5 Be6 with great play for Black.

6...d5! 7.e5

7.a3 Bxc3 8.Qxc3 dxe4 9.Qxc7 0-0 transposes to the note above.

7...Qd8 8.a3 Be7 9.f4 c5

MEMORIES OF FRANCE

A comparison should be made here between this position and the French e.g. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 0-0 8.Nf3 c5.

A FRENCH DEFENSE

The exchange of dark-squared Bishops definitely favors White who sets up a pawn structure to compliment his other pieces. There's a soft spot on g7 that Black has to watch, and his whole kingside is a little bit shaky to prods like h4-h5-h6. Black's queenside development is congested. Yet this very position is regularly defended by many of the best players in the world! Note in the Trompowsky that Black retains his dark squared Bishop, making the kingside much easier to defend, facilitating ...f7-f6! and there's no traffic jam on the queenside. It seems like a very good "French" to me!

10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nf3 Nc6 12.h4 a6

It's useful to keep a retreat square for the Bishop on this optimum diagonal. In addition, ...b7-b5 is prepared, with counterplay!

13.Rd1 b5 14.b4 Be7 15.Bd3 Qb6

WHITE'S TROMP HAS BEEN TRASHED!

Already Black is better. Kazhgalaeyev has been tempted into weakening pawn advances and one glance at the position will tell you that White is going to have some problems with his King.

16.Ne2 Bd7 17.c3

White is trying to blot out the latent power of the Bishop on e7 by placing all his pawns on dark squares. If this strategy is successful he can station a Knight on d4 and claim an advantage. Akopian's next move is very energetic, confronting this plan head on!

17...a5! 18.h5 axb4 19.axb4 Ra3 20.Bb1 f5 21.Rg1?!

Better chances were offered by the capture on f6, hoping for counterplay against the Black King: 21.exf6 Bxf6 22.Bg6+ Ke7 23.Ned4 Rha8. Possibly White saw this position in his mind's eye and didn't like it. After 24.0-0 Nxd4 25.cxd4 Ra2 the game is unclear.

21...0-0 22.g4 fxg4 23.Rxg4 Be8 24.Bg6

After 24 Qc2, the tactics favor Black: 24.Qc2 Rf5 25.Qb2 (25.Qc1 Ra1! 26.Bxf5 Rxc1 27.Bxe6+ Kh8 28.Rxc1 Bxh5 29.Rg3 Qe3 is winning) 25...Rxc3!!

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?

26.Bxf5 Rxf3 27.Bxe6+ Kh8 and White is toast. Fearsome dark-square control!

24...Bxg6 25.Rxg6 Nxb4!

Unsurprising, given what we now know about this line. White's fragile structure collapses.

26.Ned4 Ra2 27.Qc1 Nc6 28.Qb1 Nxd4 29.Rxd4 Rfa8-+ 30.Rxg7+ Kxg7 31.Qg6+ Kf8 32.f5 Qc5 33.Rd2 Qe3+, 0-1.

What have we learned so far?

* Black is trying to set up a "good French."

* If White blocks the center, ...Qd8, ...Be7, ...c7-c5!, ...Nc6, and ...Qb6 is the initial Black plan.

* His King's Bishop is retained, giving the promise of dark-square pressure and making the kingside more secure.

* Against 5 Nc3, specifically, Black plays 5...Bb4 followed by 6...d5.