← Trompowsky Attack

Practice: Classical Response (2…e6)

Solid development, pressure on the bishop

Black plays 2…e6, keeping a solid structure. After 3.e4 h6 White trades the bishop for the knight. Black recaptures with the queen, winning the bishop pair.

1. d4 Nf6
2. Bg5 e6
3. e4 h6
4. Bxf6 Qxf6
5. Nc3
♟

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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…e6 is a solid, classical response - Black develops naturally
  • After 4.Bxf6 Qxf6, Black has the bishop pair as long-term compensation
  • White gains central space with the e4–d4 pawn duo

About this line

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