Trompowsky Attack

Why the Trompowsky Attack is worth training

The Trompowsky Attack starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5. White develops the bishop before any knight and threatens to take on f6 and double Black's pawns. Black must decide at once: move the knight with 2...Ne4, strike with 2...c5, or defend with ...e6 or ...d5. Because White has not played Nf3 yet, the f-pawn is free to support e4 with f3.

Chessmate has a Trompowsky Attack course for White and a Trompowsky Attack course for Black. The White course has thirteen lines against 2...Ne4, 2...c5, 2...e6, 2...g6, 2...d5, and 2...h6, and the Black course has six lines built around 2...Ne4 and ...c5.

The improved London sample line for White

In the White sample line, Black plays 2...Ne4, and White keeps the bishop with 3.Bf4. After 3...d5, White chases the knight with 4.f3. After 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 e6, White builds a two-pawn center with 6.e4, while Black's light-squared bishop is still behind its pawns.

Black hits the center with 6...c5, and White jumps into b5 with 7.Nb5, eyeing the weak square d6. After 7...Na6, White gains space with tempo with 8.e5. After 8...Nd7, White supports d4 with 9.c3, and after 9...Be7 10.Bd3 O-O 11.Ne2 finishes development while keeping f4 for a knight.

The ...Qb6 sample line for Black

The Black sample line answers 2.Bg5 with 2...Ne4, leaving the pin and gaining a tempo on the bishop. After 3.Bf4, Black strikes at d4 with 3...c5, and after 4.e3 attacks b2 with 4...Qb6.

White defends with 5.Nc3, and Black trades with 5...Nxc3 6.bxc3. Black secures e5 with 6...d6, and after 7.Bd3 prepares the fianchetto with 7...g6. When White pushes 8.h4, the queen moves to a5 with 8...Qa5 and hits c3. After 9.Qd2, Black exchanges with 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 and trades queens with 10...Qxd2+.

The b2 gambit and other lines for White

Against 2...c5, White gains space with 3.d5. In one line Black takes on b2 with 3...Qb6 4.Nc3 Qxb2, and White defends the knight with 5.Bd2. After 5...Qb6, White builds a broad center with 6.e4 and 7.f4, and opens the f-file with 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5. Against a Benoni setup with ...g6, White builds the center with e4 and gains queenside space with 10.a4.

Against 2...e6, White takes on f6 after 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 and builds a big center. Against 2...d5 and 2...h6, White gives up the bishop with 3.Bxf6 and plays against the doubled pawns. Against 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 c5, White chases the knight with 4.f3. Against the Borg Variation 3...g5, White takes the advanced pawn with 6.Bxg5, and another line punishes the loose 5...Qd6 with 6.Bxd6.

Black's answers to f3, d5, dxc5, and h4

The Black course usually adds ...c5 after 2...Ne4. Against 4.f3, Black checks with 4...Qa5+ and retreats the knight with 5...Nf6. After 6.d5, Black challenges the pawn with 6...e6. Against 4.d5, Black attacks b2 again with 4...Qb6, opens the center with 7...e5, and castles long with 10...O-O-O. Against 4.dxc5, Black recaptures with 4...Nxc5 and fianchettoes with ...g6 and ...Bg7.

Against the Raptor 3.h4, Black strikes with 3...c5, and after 4.d5 hits b2 with 4...Qb6. After 5.Nd2 h6 6.Bf4 Qxb2 7.Nxe4, Black checks with 7...Qb4+, and after 8.c3 takes the knight with 8...Qxe4. Against 3.Bh4, Black plays 3...d5, opens the c-file with 6...cxd4, and develops with ...Nc6 and ...Bd7.

What to train first

Pick the course for the color you play.

• If you play the Trompowsky Attack as White, start with the Trompowsky Attack course for White. Learn the improved London sample line first, then the b2 gambit and the answer to 2...e6.
• If you face the Trompowsky Attack as Black, start with the Trompowsky Attack course for Black. Learn the ...Qb6 sample line first, then the answers to 4.f3 and the Raptor 3.h4.
• Whichever side you play, watch the pawn on b2. Black's queen often attacks it from b6 or a5, and White must decide whether to defend it or give it up for time.

The Trompowsky Attack gives White an early fight on Black's knight and gives Black quick counterplay with ...c5. Train the lines until you know when to trade on f6 and when to keep the bishop.