The Killer Trompowsky starts after the moves 1.d5 Nf6 2.Bg5!? White exits mainline theory and aims to double Black’s pawns with Bxf6. This is a perfect opening for players who want to play something fun and aggressive, yet not mainline.
This course was designed by expert theoretician and International Master Richard Palliser, and Grandmaster Simon Williams.
Richard follows in the tradition of other legends of English chess such as Luke McShane, Mickey Adams, and, of course, Julian Hodgson. The Killer Tromp is a repertoire that Richard has personally perfected over the course of his life. This is a repertoire that will take Black out of mainline theory from an early stage. The Trompowsky is also a great way to avoid learning what to play against such openings as the Kings Indian Defence, Benoni, Benko Gambit, Nimzo-Indian, Queens Indian and Grunfeld.
With 2.Bg5, White dictates the way that the game develops and frustrates Black on move 2, winning the early mental warfare battle. The Tromp was also Magnus Carlsen’s opening choice in the first round of the 2016 World Championships, showing it is an opening to be treated very seriously!
Chapter List
The Killer Trompowsky is broken down into 33 videos to learn from:
1: Introduction Part One – The Raptor! 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 h4!?
2: Model Game – Hodgson vs Quinn – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 h4
3: Model Game – K.Piorun vs P.Gasimov – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 h4
4: Model Game – M.Illingworth vs V.Antonio – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 h4
5: Model Game – I.Miladinovic vs M.Hennigan – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 h4
6: Model Game – R.Palliser vs M.Ganter – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 h4
7: Theory – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 h4 c5 – Sharp and Fun
8: Theory – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 h4 d5 – Solid and Reliable
9: Theory – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 h4 – Other moves for Black
Part Two – The Vaganian Gambit and Benoni set ups – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 c5 3 d5
Qb6
10: Introduction to the Vaganian Gambit
11: Model Game – Vaganian vs Kupreichik – The Vaganian Gambit
12: Model Game – Shimanov vs Bartel – The Vaganian Gambit
13: Model Game Quang Liem vs Nakamura – A Standard Benoni set up for Black
14: Theory – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 c5 3 d5 Qb6 – The Vaganian Gambit
15: Theory 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 c5 3 d5 d6 et al – Benoni set up
Part Three – Black wants to fianchetto – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 g6 3 Bxf6
16: Model Game – Vaganian vs Botterill – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 g6 3 Bxf6
17 Model Game – Nakamura vs MVL – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 g6 3 Bxf6
18 – Theory 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 g6 3 Bxf6
19 – Theory Rare Second Moves for Black
Part Four – Black tries to go Solid – 2…d5 3 Bxf6 20: Black tries to go solid – 2…d5 3 Bxf6 –
Introduction
21: Model Game – Mamedyrov vs Kramnik – 2…d5 3 Bxf6
22: Model Game – Mamedyrov vs Ding – 2…d5 3 Bxf6
23: Model Game – Duda vs Wojtaszek – 2…d5 Bxf6
24: Theory – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 d5 3 Bxf6 exf6
25: Theory – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 d5 3 Bxf6 gxf6
Part Five – The Nimzo Approach – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6
26: Model Game – Moiseenko vs Sorokobjagin – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6
27: Model Game – Akopian vs Iliushkin – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6
28: Model Game – Palliser vs Von Voorthuijsen – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6
29: Theory – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6 3 e4 c5
30: Theory – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6 3 e4 h6
31: Theory – 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6 3 e4 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 Nc3 Bb4
32: Conclusion
33: Extra – Chat with a Legend – Julian Hodgson