Torre Attack

Why the Torre Attack is worth training

The Torre Attack starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5. White develops the king's knight first and then pins the knight on f6. The usual setup adds e3, Nbd2, Bd3, and c3, so the pawns on c3, d4, and e3 form a solid triangle. From there White chooses between the Ne5 outpost and the central break e4. The bishop leaves before e3, so it stays outside the pawn chain.

Chessmate has a Torre Attack course for White and a Torre Attack course for Black. The White course has twelve lines against 3...d5, 3...h6, 3...c5, 3...b6, 2...g6, and 1...d5, and the Black course has five lines built around the immediate strike 3...c5.

The Pillsbury Attack sample line for White

In the White sample line, Black answers with 3...d5, 4...Be7, and early castling. White completes the Torre setup with 4.e3, 5.Bd3, 6.Nbd2, and 7.O-O. After 7...c5, White reinforces d4 with 8.c3.

After 8...b6, White plants the knight on e5 with 9.Ne5, and after 9...Bb7 supports it with 10.f4. This is the Pillsbury Attack. Black answers with 10...Ne4. White trades the dark-squared bishops with 11.Bxe7 Qxe7, removes the knight on d7 with 12.Nxd7 Qxd7, and brings the other knight to f3 with 13.Nf3. White keeps the f4 pawn and can use e5 again.

The ...b6 and ...Bb7 sample line for Black

The Black sample line challenges d4 with 3...c5 before committing the d-pawn. After 4.e3 Be7, Black breaks the pin and prepares to castle. After 5.Nbd2 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7, the bishop on the long diagonal aims at the knight on f3.

After 7.c3, Black releases the tension with 7...cxd4 8.exd4, and 8...d6 controls e5 and clears d7. When White trades with 9.Bxf6, Black recaptures with 9...Bxf6 and keeps the kingside pawns intact. After 10.Qe2, Black develops with 10...Nd7, and the knight covers c5 and e5.

The queen hunt and other lines for White

Against 3...c5 and 4...Qb6, one line lets Black take the pawn with 5.Nbd2 Qxb2. White develops with 6.Bd3 and 7.O-O, chases the queen with 8.Nc4 and 9.Rb1, and recovers the center pawn with 10.exd4. After 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.d5 Nb4, White checks with 13.Nd6+, and after 13...Kf8 attacks the queen again with 14.Bb5.

Against 3...h6, White keeps the pin with 4.Bh4, builds the triangle with c3, and opens the center with 10.e4. Against 3...b6 and 1...d5, White uses the Ne5 outpost and f4. Against 2...g6, White develops with 4.Nbd2 and plays for e4. After 5...g5 6.Bg3 Nh5, White lets Black take the bishop and uses the half-open h-file after 8.hxg3.

Black's answers to c3, Bxf6, Nc3, and d5

Against 4.c3, Black asks the bishop with 4...h6, recaptures with the queen after 5.Bxf6 Qxf6, and controls e5 with 6...d6. After 7.Bb5+ Bd7, Black trades off the bishop with 10...Bxb5. When White takes at once with 4.Bxf6, Black recaptures with 4...gxf6, attacks b2 with 5...Qb6, and builds a pawn center with 8...f5, 9...d5, and 10...d4.

Against 4.Nc3, Black exchanges with 4...cxd4 5.Qxd4 Nc6 and gains time on the queen. When White castles long, Black puts the queen on a5 with 8...Qa5 and prepares ...g5 with 10...Rg8. Against 4.d5, Black takes with 4...exd5, pins with 6...Qa5, and trades queens with 9...Qxd2+.

What to train first

Pick the course for the color you play.

• If you play the Torre Attack as White, start with the Torre Attack course for White. Learn the Pillsbury Attack sample line first, then the queen hunt after 5...Qxb2 and the answer to 2...g6.
• If you face the Torre Attack as Black, start with the Torre Attack course for Black. Learn the ...b6 and ...Bb7 sample line first, then the answers to 4.c3 and 4.Bxf6.
• Whichever side you play, watch the pin on f6 and the square e5. White wants to use the pin and the outpost, and Black wants to break the pin and keep e5 covered.

The Torre Attack gives White a solid setup with clear plans and gives Black early chances to strike at d4. Train the lines until you know when to keep the pin and when to trade on f6.