3...exf6 is more sound and more solid. Only time I might suggest 3...gxf6 is if you are in a final round, must win situation with Black and a draw is as good as a loss. Otherwise, not worth the risk.
QPG: Trompowsky Exchange Question
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Sep 23, 2019
0
#3
ThrillerFan wrote:
3...exf6 is more sound and more solid. Only time I might suggest 3...gxf6 is if you are in a final round, must win situation with Black and a draw is as good as a loss. Otherwise, not worth the risk.
All right, thanks for this insight! 
g....keep it simple.
3 Bxf6 gxf6 4 e3 c5
3 e3 c5 4 Bxf6 gxf6.
There isn't much to love about gxf6. The King's bishop hasn't a great place to go to, castling is complicated and delayed, all for the sake of a center pawn. The opening is a race for development, but gxf6 does not appear to help that objective.
3...gxf6 is the soundest and more frequent recapture by quite a margin.
The reason is quite simple: Black will be able to chip at white's center with ...c5 without being saddled with an IQP.
(Magnus played 3.e3 first, but this is just a transposition).
2...d5(!) is the simplest and most direct way to equalize against the Trompowsky, and Black need not know much of theoretical lines to employ it.
Sep 25, 2019
0
#7
A very recent game Cramling-Wenjun (September, 2019), 0-1, where black played 3. gxf6:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1972105
Yigor έγραψε:
A very recent game Cramling-Wenjun (September, 2019), 0-1, where black played 3. gxf6:
Yes, WCh. Ju Wenjun employed the same simple+safe strategy Karjakin used against WCh. Carlsen.
Sep 25, 2019
0
#9
pfren wrote:
The reason is quite simple: Black will be able to chip at white's center with ...c5 without being saddled with an IQP.
Good explanation!
Optimissed έγραψε:
(The position given by pfren is not the position given in the O.P. I should have thought that would be obvious)
It is the same- just a brief move order change: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.e3 c5 is the Carlsen- Karjakin game.
Can you suggest something else than 4.e3?
4.Nc3 c5 is a very common Veresov line, and 4.c4 dxc4 is just fine for Black.
The ...Nbd7 line in the Veresov is too safe, I guess- Black has few practical chances to press for a win.
I recently played this game against a lower rated opponent. I played all the natural opening moves, but sadly enough there was not much left to play about... White played passively nd Black could get something tangible a few moves before the end, but it was far from easy/obvious.
Sep 25, 2019
0
#12
pfren wrote:
I recently played this game against a lower rated opponent. I played all the natural opening moves, but sadly enough there was not much left to play about... White played passively nd Black could get something tangible a few moves before the end, but it was far from easy/obvious.
Panagiotis - Panayotis, when I glanced, I thought that U played with your younger brother. 
Yigor έγραψε:
pfren wrote:
I recently played this game against a lower rated opponent. I played all the natural opening moves, but sadly enough there was not much left to play about... White played passively nd Black could get something tangible a few moves before the end, but it was far from easy/obvious.
Panagiotis - Panayotis, when I glanced, I thought that U played with your younger brother.
Same Christian name, but registered differently at FIDE, since there is no commonly accepted way to write it down. There is no equivalent name in English, the closest one being Marion.
QPG: Trompowsky Exchange:
What do U prefer 3...exf6 or 3...gxf6 ?!? or what is better in your opinion ?!?