In Contrast with the Post ‘Worst Piece Attack’ 

 

(by Yury V. Bukayev) 

 

Dear readers, now let me continue to tell you some new bright things about “rare” responses after 1.d4 including the opening variation 1.d4 e6, which is extremely far from Open Games, but got some connection with Jerome gambit due to the post ‘Worst Piece Attack’ on this famous blog. 

I offer the new name for 1.d4 e6 – the ‘Stop trompowskism opening’. As you know, the ‘Trompowsky attack’ in chess is 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5. Here White plays 2.Bg5 with forming no pin. Let’s consider the position after 1.d4. After all (excluding 1…e6) Black’s possible known strong responses – 1…d5, 1…c6, 1…d6, 1…f5, 1…c5, 1…g6, 1…Nf6 – White can play 2.Bg5 and get a position (with no pin) which is playable for White as minimum. White’s idea 2.Bg5 in all these openings is enough similar to the Trompowsky attack, so we can connect 2.Bg5 here everywhere with Trompowsky’s name as trompowskism. And 1…e6 is an alone strong response which can stop White’s 2.Bg5 (1.d4 e6 2.Bg5?? Qxg5 is a start of White’s worst piece attack in chess, as you know), all alternative ways to stop 2.Bg5 – 1…h6, 1…f6, 1…e5 – are weak and can’t be recommended for a grandmaster level of play.  

It should be noted that the name ‘Pseudo-Trompowsky’ (or ‘Pseudo-Tromp’ – briefly) is used sometimes for variation 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5, but this name is used sometimes also for 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 d5 3.Bg5, so its meaning isn’t certain, I shouldn’t use “pseudo-” to form my offer. And the old name of 1.d4 e6 isn’t absolutely right. So my offer is explained now. 

And you can see, there is no move 1…a6!? AN in my above list of first moves, because it isn’t known yet as a strong response. But let us consider it more attentively. This move can be extremely useful for Black when we look at early stages of Slav defence, Benoni defence, English opening and some other important openings. Here are my new variations: 

1.   1.d4 a6!? 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 (or 4…Nc6 with the idea e7-e5), 

2.     1.d4 a6!? 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5, 

3. 1.d4 a6!? 2.e4 c6 ( = 1.e4 c6 2.d4 a6!?). 

Everywhere the pawn a6 plays an important role here.  

Finally, let me show you my new opening idea after 1.d4 a6 2.Bg5 c6 3.c4 (3.e3?? Qa5+): it is 3…d5 4.e3?! dxc4!, and the pawn c4 will be not weak, Black stands very well.