Starting Out: The Trompowsky Attack - Palliser

The Trompowsky Attack is well known as an ambitious and aggressive opening. Initially an offbeat line favored by club players, in recent history it has undergone somewhat of a transformation. Thanks to the efforts and innovations of Grandmasters such as Mickey Adams and Julian Hodgson, it has been fine-tuned into a powerful attacking weapon, and today it is seen as an important mainline opening in its own right. The Trompowsky leads to diverse positions, sharp or positional, and it also allows both sides to play creatively from the very early stages of the game.

In this book, Richard Palliser studies the Trompowsky by going back to basics, introducing the key moves and ideas, and taking care to explain the reasoning behind them - something that has often been neglected or taken for granted.Everyman Chess's Starting Out series has firmly established itself as the leading guide to studying openings for up-and-coming players. These books are distinguished by their easy-to-read layout, the lucid explanations of the fundamentals, and the abundance of notes, tips and warnings to help the reader absorb vital ideas. Starting Out opening books are ideal for enthusiastic chess players who have little experience of the openings in question and who wish to appreciate the essential principles behind them.

Specifications

• 272 Pages
• Paperback
• Publisher: Everyman
• Published: August 2009

Reviews

• This is one of the more substantial offerings in Everyman's 'Starting Out' range. Naturally, as with the other books in the series, helpful 'hints', 'warnings, 'notes' and the like are used throughout the book, complete with their customary light bulbs, skull and crossbones and other little graphics. Most of these are relevant to chess in general rather than pertaining purely to Trompowsky positions, so the reader will absorb a lot useful snippets along the way. Another strength of the works by IM Palliser is his ability to collate several sources in a succinct fashion, often cross-referencing major works to good effect. His bibliographies are always worth looking at; stones are rarely left unturned when he is on the case. I certainly felt I'd learned quite a lot about an opening I had never previously been able to fathom. -Sean Marsh marshtowers.blogspot.com
• This book is a must for those who play the Trompowsky with White. The book is unusually large (269 pages) for the Starting Out series. The reason is that it is full of different suggestions as to how White can interpret this opening. Players who face the Trompowsky with Black would be well advised to read this book too as older books on this system do not include White's most recent tries for an advantage. This book is clearly a labour of love and Palliser covers very well the most recent ideas that have been played. -GM Hedinn Steingrimsson Chess Today
• Players rated up to 2000 should benefit a great deal from this book; it will allow them to play the opening with a great deal of confidence. However, higher rated players will probably want more advanced material. Nevertheless, I recommend this to anyone looking for an opening for white that avoids the main line theory. (***** out of 5) -Carsten Hansen ChessCafe.com
• The Trompowsky has long since been promoted from "offbeat" to "respected opening" status and this substantial tome by the assiduous Richard Palliser adds weight to its reputation. - John Saunders BCM
• This is another well written book by Richard Palliser. He is quickly becoming one of the standard bearers among opening books authors. I have to add that I liked Palliser's order of material as it lends ease to reading the book. I recommend this book to players of any strength, just as long as you have the energy to play the opening! - NM Bill McGeary Chessville.com