The Trompowsky is the bane of those who like to work things out from home. What to do? No less than 8 moves have been played by players rated over 2400 against the Trompowsky. Here they are:
1. Ne4 10261 53.8%
2. e6 8441 54.4%
3. d5 5599 53.6%
4. c5 3863 50.6%
5. g6 3093 57.3%
6. d6 865 56.7%
7. c6 488 50.9%
8. h6 261 64.2%
Ivanchuk plays the principled move, 2...Ne4, and then takes the game off the heavily beaten path with 7...Qf5. After 12 moves Black has exactly one pawn advanced as far as the 3rd rank. White has a tremendous space advantage, but his army his scattered. The game ultimately reduces to a Bishop and three pawns versus two Bishops, and with the draw in hand Short plays 37.Bg2?? ending the day.
