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December 2000

Following the results of the November voting poll here at ChessPublishing, I am taking the opportunity in this festive Christmas month to conduct a survey regarding recent games in the h4 Trompowsky.

Happy Hunting!

A merry Christmas and victorious new year to all.

Survey: The h4 Tromp

Trompowsky

London system

Torre Attack

Veresov

Colle

Anti-Colle

Survey: The h4 Tromp

h4 Tromp In general, I feel that Black should have few problems equalising, as long as he treats the opening with some respect and doesn't get over-ambitious. If the h4 Tromp appeals to you white player, I would recommend using it sparingly surprise weapon. Choose your victim carefully. Psychologically it may be most effective against solid "respectable" players, who will try to punish White's somewhat eccentric opening play.

Trompowsky

AS217 I'm not entirely sure of the objective merits of White's strange move order, but it threw his opponent off balance and in this season of festive fun, it certainly made for a very entertaining game.

AS218 Black unleashes a stunning new idea in one of the main lines and is well rewarded. This may explain why Hodgson, among others, avoids the issue completely.

Survey: The h4 Tromp

Trompowsky

London system

Torre Attack

Veresov

Colle

Anti-Colle

London system

AS221 A bad day for London system fans. Black once again plays what I believe to be the best system and White never gets into the game.

AS222 White still needs a decent way to combat 1...d5 and 2...Nf6. On current evidence, I can only advise London system players to try something other than 3 Bf4 against this line.

Survey: The h4 Tromp

Trompowsky

London system

Torre Attack

Veresov

Colle

Anti-Colle

Torre Attack

AS219 For those players looking for an offbeat way to take on the Torre they could do much worse than to follow Jonathan Rowson's Grandmasterly example in this game.

AS220 In the Torre-Grunfeld the b4 pawn push can be an effective way of dealing with Black's plan of ...c7-c5. Here White indeed plays b4 and after a few exchanges winds up with a pleasant position.

Veresov

AS223 Black adopts a very provocative strategy, encouraging White's central pawns forward so that he can then undermine them. Come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly...

Survey: The h4 Tromp

Trompowsky

London system

Torre Attack

Veresov

Colle

Anti-Colle

Colle

AS225 Colle Systems where Black plays an early ...g6 are often the hardest for White to crack. In the following game, White mixes creativity with aggression to bring in the desired result.

Anti-Colle

AS224 Watch your c3 square! It is not only White who can launch devastating attacks in the Colle. You have been warned!

Survey: The h4 Tromp

Trompowsky

London system

Torre Attack

Veresov

Colle

Anti-Colle