Happy New Year from Popular Chess

Posted by Alexis Harakis on

Happy New Year! It’s still very early in the life of Popular Chess, the publisher which is the successor to Everyman Chess and who will be, over time, reprinting many of the classic, bestselling Everyman Chess titles. Byron Jacobs and Popular Chess will also be doing new books and I was delighted that my long-time labour of love on the Trompowsky, The Tricky Tromp, was chosen as one of their first titles.

1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 can be played in many different ways, of course, but in this book I’ve aimed, where possible, to reintroduce the element of the surprise which accompanied the Trompowsky during its first spell of popularity in the 1980s, especially in Spain with Jesus de la Villa and Juan Bellon Lopez to the fore, then in England thanks to the pioneering efforts of Julian Hodgson.

After 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4, which is still a pretty common choice at all levels bar the very elite, 3 Bf4 is a good move, but I’ve focussed instead on a favourite of mine, Hodgson’s original preference, 3 h4!?, as well as another underrated, if out-of-fashion, option in 3 Bh4. Likewise, against 2...c5 both 3 d5, angling for the ever-dangerous Vaganian Gambit, 3...Qb6 4 Nc3! Qxb2 5 Bd2, and 3 Bxf6 gxf6 4 d5 Qb6 5 Nd2!? are covered.

The elite and other solid titled types rather like to count the Tromp with 2...d5 when 3 e3 is the modern main line and exchanging on f6 White’s traditional choice, but I’ve focussed on 3 Nd2!?, looking to retain more tension in the position. Similarly 2...e6 is met by 3 Nd2, which may lead to a souped-up type of Torre Attack for White or to the tricky gambit 3...h6 4 Bh4 c5 5 e4!.

It is, of course, very early days for The Tricky Tromp, but I couldn’t complain when one early reader wrote to say: “My wife bought me The Tricky Tromp for Christmas. It’s excellent! Lots of new ideas and thorough analysis. I’m already scoring well with some of the tricks and traps in online blitz games, especially in the 3 h4 lines which now seem full of poison. Lovely hardback edition too!”

Many Popular Chess books will now also appear in hardback format and this one should pack a definite punch at club and online level. So, if you’re looking to spice up your existing Tromp repertoire or want to add a dangerous new weapon, whether as a regular or surprise choice, I hope The Tricky Tromp will help!

And don’t just take my word for it. 2024 saw 2...Ne4 3 Bh4!? employed by Belgian’s big prospect, Daniel Dardha, as well as the aggressive Brazilian Grandmaster Alex Fier. They both deployed it in Titled Tuesday, and Shak Mamedyarov went one better when he wheeled it out on Wall Street no less! (see the board below

The Vaganian Gambit is normally an option which strong players dodge, not that doing so has to promise Black an easy life.

Nakamura has also been seen on the white side of 2...e6 3 Nd2, as have Nikita Vitiugov, Aravindh Chithambaram, and against Levon Aronian no less en route to winning at Chennai, and that brave Ukrainian soldier, Igor Kovalenko.

The 2024 pedigree of 2...d5 3 Nd2!? is even more impressive, Magnus Carlsen having used it once at Titled Tuesday, with all Mamedyarov, Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa and Andreikin also seen on the white side. (see the board below

For more on The Tricky Tromp, do see popularchess.com/products/the-tricky-tromp or to purchase it please visit newinchess.com/the-tricky-tromp or chess.co.uk/products/the-tricky-tromp-richard-palliser.

IM Richard Palliser

Playthrough

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