Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

PART FOUR: 5.Nf3

Drozdov (2314) - Kantarji (2304)

Tel Aviv Before Thunder Storm, 2002

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nf3

WHITE'S BEST 5^th MOVE?

Peter Wells is a bit sniffy about 5 Nf3 in his recent Trompowsky tome (click to see Donaldson's and Silman's reviews of WINNING WITH THE TROMPOWSKY). In fact, he more or less ignores the move altogether which is a bit odd, because it's probably White's best chance. I like Pete's book a lot but it is pretty optimistic. The Tromp is portrayed as the club player's dream opening but this is one opening that will definitely not suit everyone. If you want success with the Tromp you must possess: a) Energy. b) Originality of thought. c) An iconoclastic nature. Is that you? Be honest!

5...d5! 6.Nbd2

6.e5 Qd8 7.c4 is a little dangerous for Black, who has to switch plans now: (7.c3 c5 is the usual stuff.) 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 Nd7 9.Nc3 Nb6 10.Bb3 Bd7 11.0-0 Bc6

LAYING CLAIM TO THE d5-SQUARE

The key is to strongpoint d5. 12.Rc1 Be7 13.Qd3 Bxf3 (I suggest 13...Qd7 14.Rfd1 Rd8 = as an improvement over the game. As played, Hodgson gets the chance to hit out with a trademark sacrifice.) 14.Qxf3 c6 15.Qg4 g6 16.Bxe6!,  Hodgson-Lodhi, London 1987.

6...Qd8

Or 6...a6 7.Qe2 Qd8 8.exd5 Qxd5 9.g3 c5 10.c4 Qh5 11.d5 Be7 12.h4 exd5 13.0-0-0 Nc6 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Nc4 Qe6 16.Qd2 0-0 (Both players seem to be trying to out provoke each other. But with castles, Black takes his first clean breath of the game and we can only speak now of a Black advantage.) 17.Bd3 Qf6 18.Nb6 Bg4 19.Ng5 Rad8 20.Bh7+ Kh8 21.Nd5 Rxd5 22.Qxd5 Bxd1 23.Qxd1 g6 24.Qd2 Kg7 25.f4 Rd8 26.Qh2 Qf5 27.h5 Nb4, 0-1, Kerman-Ibragimov, Los Angeles 2003.

7.c3 Be7 8.Bd3 c5!?

May I suggest 8...0-0! as an improvement here, just delaying ...c7-c5 for a move or so, waiting to see what White will do. I believe that Black obtains good play: 9.0-0 (9.e5 c5; 9.Qe2 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Rad1 Qf6 gives Black his share of the chances) 9...c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nb3 Bb6 12.exd5 Qxd5 13.Qe2 Nd7 14.Rad1 Qh5 =.

9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.exd5 Qxd5

White has provoked a more open clash by not blocking the center.

11.Nb3 Nc6

White is better after both 11...Bb6 12.Qe2 Nc6 13.0-0-0 and 11...Be7 12.Qe2 Nc6 13.Rd1 Qh5 14.h3! f6 15.g4 Qf7 16.Nbd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4.

12.Qc2

After 12.Qe2 Be7 13.0-0-0 Black would have been in a spot of trouble.

12...Ne5 13.0-0-0 Nxd3+ 14.Rxd3 Qf5 15.Qd2 Bb6 16.g4 Qf6 17.h4 Bd7 18.g5 hxg5 19.Re1 Bb5

Normal service has finally been resumed.

20.hxg5 Qf5 21.Rd5 Qxf3 22.Rxb5 Bxf2 23.Re2 Rh1+ 24.Kc2 Rd8 25.Nd4 Bxd4 26.cxd4 Qc6+ 27.Rc5 Qa4+ 28.Kc3 Rd1 29.Qe3 R1xd4 30.a3 Qd1, 0-1.

If Black is aiming to play with ...d7-d5, then 5 Nf3 is his most awkward opponent. Nevertheless, with the accurate move-orders suggested here, he has no reason to fear this variation at all. I'm not sure what Pinchas did here was totally correct but hey, that's entertainment!

Summarizing, the Trompowski will become increasingly common as more and more club players believe the propaganda. It's up to you to show that Black is right in there pitching, and with the .d5 plan outlined here I think you have every chance of doing so. It'll soon be time to dust off those books on the Torre Attack guys. Don't wake me up when that happens.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4