Download PGN of August ’25 d-Pawn Specials games
The Trompowsky: 2...Ne4 3 h4 d5 4 Nd2 Nxg5 5 hxg5 [A45]
After 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 we’ve two major developments to examine this month, including the ever supremely well-prepared Mark Hebden wheeling out 3 Bh4!? c5 4 f3 g5 5 fxe4 gxh4 6 e3 Bh6 7 Qd3, as well as 3 h4 d5 4 Nd2 Nxg5 5 hxg5 g6:
             |
Here I still quite like 6 e3 Bg7 7 f4!, with a clamp on the position, but 6 Ngf3 was preferred in Heimisson, H - Aveskulov, V, where both sides were guilty of underestimating some major resources for the other one.
The Trompowsky: 2...c5 3 Bxf6 gxf6 4 d5 Qb6 5 Qc1 f5 6 e3 Bg7 7 c3 [A45]
After 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 c5 3 Bxf6 gxf6 (we also take a quick look at 3...exf6 4 Nc3!?) 4 d5 Qb6 5 Qc1 f5 6 e3 Bg7 7 c3 Black has a few options:
|
|
Normal is 7...d6, but 7...e5!? was seen in So, W - Oparin, G, where 8 Na3! was probably critical, with the idea of 8...Qg6 9 Nb5.
The Trompowsky: 2...g6 3 Bxf6 exf6 4 e3 d5 [D00]
It was great to see Mark Hebden wheeling out 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 so much at the recent British Championship. He faced 2...g6 3 Bxf6 exf6 4 e3 d5 in two games, a solid set-up for Black advocated by Gawain Jones. After 5 Nd2 Bd6 6 Ne2 White will break with c2-c4, but Black is very solid and 6...c6 7 c4 dxc4 8 Nxc4 Bc7 9 Nc3 should be OK for him:
|
|
In Hebden, M - Stoica, S, White struggled to find an especially great plan and was even somewhat fortunate when his lower-rated opponent offered a draw in a position where Black had full control and all the chances.
The London: 2...g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 e3 Bg7 5 h4 c6 [D00]
Another veteran English player, FM Peter Sowray, twice wheeled out the Jobava-Prié Attack, 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bf4, then 3...g6 4 e3 Bg7 5 h4 at the Biel Open, facing both 5...h5 and 5...c6. Then 6 Be2 is standard, but he preferred 6 Bd3 and after 6...b5 White might already consider 7 h5!? followed by the exchange sacrifice there. The calmer 7 a3 was preferred in Sowray, P - Hoffmann, A:
|
|
This way of holding Black up on the queenside is known in general from the Barry Attack, as is 7...a6 8 Nf3 (8 h5!? Nxh5 9 Rxh5 gxh5 10 Qxh5 was again on, giving White full compensation for the exchange) 8...Bg4 9 Qd2!? when 9...Bxf3 10 gxf3 Nh5! was a good response and simply pretty unclear in the game.
The London System: 2...g6 3 Nf3 Bg7 4 e3 0-0 5 Nbd2 c5 6 h3 b6 7 c3 Bb7 [A48]
After 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 c5 the critical test remains 3 d5, but unsurprisingly 3 e3 is still preferred by a great many London players. Here Black can elect to head for a King’s Indian set-up after all, with 3...g6 4 Nf3 Bg7 when White has a few closely-related but different set-ups to choose from, including 5 Nbd2 (5 Be2!? 0-0 6 0-0 would be my preference as White, and if 6...b6 7 d5!) 5...0-0 6 h3 b6 7 c3 Bb7 8 Bd3 d6:
|
|
The bishop on d3 is always something of a tactical liability in these lines, with Black angling for ...e5, but 9 Qe2?! cxd4! 10 cxd4?! Nd5! only served to make matters even worse for White in Pert, M - Wells, P, where another highly-experienced Englishman won a crisp attacking game.
The London System: 2...g6 3 Nf3 Bg7 4 e3 0-0 5 Be2 d6 6 h3 b6 [A48]
In light of the comment above, it probably won’t come as a huge surprise that I also decided to check the move order 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 g6 3 e3 Bg7 4 h3 0-0 5 Nf3 d6 6 Be2 and then 6...b6 7 0-0 Bb7 8 Nbd2 c5 9 c3 a6 when 10 a4 Nbd7 11 Bh2 Ra7!? is a creative idea we’ve noted before:
|
|
Here 12 b4!? saw White countering in vigorous fashion on the queenside, but still failed to supply any advantage until Black forgot about that traditional weak spot, f7, in Zebracki, T - Carrasco Miranda, A.
The London System: 2...g6 3 Nf3 Bg7 4 e3 0-0 5 h3 d6 6 Nbd2 c5 7 c3 [A48]
After 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 g6 3 e3 Bg7 White can also go 4 h3 d6 5 Nf3 0-0 6 Nbd2 when 6...c5 7 c3 Qb6!? turns out to be a new move for us:
|
|
Yes, White does have 8 Nc4, but after 8...Qc7 9 Be2 Be6 Black had a definite threat and should have obtained sufficient counterplay with 10 Rc1 b5!? in the topsy-turvy clash that was Gukesh, D - Vachier-Lagrave, M.
Let’s hope we have more such dramatic games to enjoy again next month!
Until then, Richard
>> Previous Update >>