← Trompowsky Attack

Practice: Main Line (2…Ne4)

Black attacks the bishop immediately

Black challenges the bishop immediately with 2…Ne4. White retreats to f4, and after 4.f3 chases the knight back. White then advances d5 for a space advantage.

1. d4 Nf6
2. Bg5 Ne4
3. Bf4 c5
4. f3 Nf6
5. d5
♟

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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…Ne4 is the most principled reply, attacking the Bg5 at once
  • After 3.Bf4 c5 4.f3 Nf6, White plays d5 to grab central space
  • White often follows up with e4 to build a big centre

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.