Mystery game #60: Tempestuous Trompowsky's Tricky Transpositions Triumph!

[Frank Dixon]

Here is the text of an interesting game. You can discuss the game: player strengths, era, setting, time controls, etc. I will provide all data in a few days. Enjoy!!

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.f3 Nf6 5.dxc5 Qa5+ 6.Nc3 Qxc5 7.e4 g6 8.Qd2 d6 9.Be3 Qa5 10.O-O-O Be6 11.Kb1 Nc6 12.Nge2 Ne5 13.Nd4 Nc4 14.Bxc4 Bxc4 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.h4 h5 17.Bd4 e5 18.Be3 d5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 Bd6 21.f4, 1-0.

[Frank Dixon]

Brian Profit (2103) -- Graham Allen (2188), Kingston Open (4) 1997, played 1997-02-09, time controls 30/90', SD/60', TD/Organizer Larry Bevand, Assistant Frank Dixon, Trompowsky, A45.
The Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) is an opening which had remained obscure, after being introduced by the Brazilian Master Octavio Trompowsky earlier in the 20th century; it had been played sporadically before that. But its popularity rose significantly late in the 20th century, spurred by successful use from strong players such as English GM Julian Hodgson. It can head into a number of diverse transpositional paths to more familiar openings, as well as following its own quickly developing theory.
Here, Black aims for something like a Dragon Sicilian formation, with an exchange of his c5 pawn for White's d4 pawn. White further obliges by setting up the familiar bishop-queen battery on the c1-h6 diagonal, and castling long (both of which are fixtures in the Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack). But Black remains down several tempi compared to that variation; his QN travels to c4 in three moves, and is there exchanged for the B/f1, but in the Sicilian, that bishop normally first goes to c4 and then to b3 before this exchange, so Black has lost two tempi in comparison. Black's queen also takes three moves to reach the familiar square c7, to command the half-open c-file, losing more time. White is developing very efficiently, with his King secure, and is developing threats. Black does not manage to castle, and he even brings his KB to d6, instead of following through on a planned fianchetto after ...g7-g6. A forthcoming opening of the centre places Black, down a pawn, in deep trouble, so he resigned after 21.f4!!
Overall, a highly instructive game!

[Brian Profit]

Thanks, Frank!

[Frank Dixon]

I have made an error with this game's details, which I will correct now.
The scoresheet for this game wound up in the group of scoresheets from the 1997 Kingston Open. BUT: this game is actually from a different Kingston event, the Kingston Championship Candidates group!! White was still played by Brian Profit (2103), BUT Instead of Black being Graham Allen, it was instead Adam Runions, rated 2008, and the game was actually played 1997-02-17, at the Kingston Chess Club. Time controls: 30/90', SD/60', TD: Frank Dixon. Sorry about that!