← Trompowsky Attack

Practice: 2...c5 Variation

Black immediately challenges the centre

Black immediately challenges White's centre with ...c5. The resulting sharp play sees Black grabbing material on b2 while White gets development and open files as compensation.

1. d4 Nf6
2. Bg5 c5
3. d5 Qb6
4. Bxf6 gxf6
5. Nc3 Qxb2
6. Qd3 Bh6
7. Rb1 Qa3
8. e3 Bg7
9. Nf3 d6
10. Be2 O-O
11. O-O
♟

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Key strategic ideas

  • 2.Bg5 immediately disrupts Black's normal development. The bishop pins the knight and cannot be ignored.
  • White avoids the huge amount of theory in 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 lines. Black is forced into unfamiliar positions from move 2.
  • The bishop on g5 does multiple jobs: it pins the f6 knight, eyes the queenside, and can be traded for the knight to double Black's pawns.

Common mistakes & traps

  • After 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.d5 Qb6 5.Qd2, if Black tries ...Nxf2? 6.Kxf2 Qxb2+ 7.Ke3! the king escapes and Black's queen is trapped.
  • The main trap for Black: 2...d5 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.e3 Bd6 5.g3. White has a pleasant position with better pawn structure and a dark-square strategy.

Pawn structure notes

White's d4-e3 (or d4-c4) against Black's d5. If Bxf6 is played, Black gets doubled f-pawns which are a permanent weakness. White avoids the isolated pawn problems of some d4 systems.

Tips

  • 2...c5 is a sharp response that immediately questions White's centre control
  • Black can grab the b2 pawn but risks falling behind in development
  • Both sides must play accurately — the queen on a3 is active but can become a target

About this line

This line is rated advanced. Practice it repeatedly until you can play the entire sequence without thinking. The in-app trainer tracks your perfect streaks and celebrates milestones.