The Trompowsky Attack

New opening ideas are created frequently, but few have had the meteoric career of Nigel Short's system against the Caro-Kann defense. Virtually unknown before 1988, it has become a regular customer in super tournaments since the 1990's. And yet it is so simple to handle that a Class B player can master most of the strategies in an afternoon. The British GM's system consists of playing the Advance variation of the Caro-Kann with a relatively modest form of development- modest yet it can pack quite a wallop. What short discovered was not just a new move, but a new concept. Despite the presence of the annoying bishop on the excellent b1-h7 diagonal, Black had not equalized, he announced. Short demonstrated that the bishop could, in fact, become a liability that would be attacked in the general expansion of white's pawns on the kingside. 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5(as well as 3..c5 and 3..Na6)-new strategy against each one.

Part One:1.e4 c5 2.c3 has gained a wide following through the years. White enjoys the central space advantage conferred by a classical pawn center. With rapid piece development, White will get the advantage against anything Black can play. Part Two: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 and Black declines with 3..Nf6, or 3..d3, or 3..d5. We show you how one system transposes into another and when it can't. In all cases, White will obtain promising vistas for dynamic play.