ECO A45
Trompowsky Attack
Also known as: Trompovsky
The Trompowsky Attack begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5, immediately pinning attention on the f6-knight and steering the game away from the vast theory of the Queen's Gambit and the Indian defences. By threatening to capture on f6 and either trade off Black's knight or damage the black pawns, White poses concrete practical problems from the very second move, making it a favourite surprise weapon.
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5
Strategic ideas
With 2.Bg5 White sidesteps mainstream opening theory and asks Black an immediate question. If Black allows Bxf6, White gains the bishop pair and can saddle Black with doubled pawns after ...gxf6 or ...exf6, entering imbalanced structures that White has usually studied more deeply. The appeal is practical: a low theoretical burden combined with early, concrete choices that can knock a well-prepared opponent out of book.
The most testing reply, 2...Ne4, hits the bishop at once, and White retreats to f4 or h4 before expanding with f3, e4, and a broad pawn centre, often gaining time by later harassing the advanced knight. The resulting middlegames are rich and unbalanced, tending to favour the side who understands the specific structures better rather than the one who has memorised the most theory.
Main variations
After 2...Ne4, the main line, White plays 3.Bf4 (or 3.Bh4) and typically follows with f3, Nd2 and e4, seizing the centre. Other important replies include 2...e6, keeping a flexible French-like structure, and 2...d5, leading to solid but slightly passive positions, in both of which Black tries to prove the early bishop sortie premature.
The sharpest battleground is 2...c5, striking at the centre at once. White can grab the bishop pair and imbalance the pawns with 3.Bxf6, or offer a gambit with 3.d5, obtaining space and open lines. The line 2...g6 invites 3.Bxf6 exf6, damaging Black's structure in return for the two bishops, and here as elsewhere Black aims to exploit the tempo he gains by challenging the bishop to equalise the pawn structure.
History and background
The opening takes its name from Octávio Trompowsky de Almeida, a Brazilian champion of the 1930s and 1940s who employed it regularly; it is also spelt Trompovsky. For decades an offbeat sideline, it was revitalised at grandmaster level in the 1990s — the English grandmaster Julian Hodgson was among its most influential advocates — and it has since earned a reputation as a fully respectable, low-theory way to fight for the initiative with the white pieces.
Key ideas
- 2.Bg5 sidesteps the heavy theory of the 2.c4 openings.
- White threatens Bxf6, gaining the bishop pair or doubling Black's pawns.
- Against 2...Ne4 White retreats Bf4 or Bh4 and expands with f3 and e4.
- Positions are unbalanced and practical, rewarding specific preparation.
- A light theoretical burden makes it a potent surprise weapon.
- The 2...c5 lines are the sharpest, with gambit and structural imbalances.
Typical plans
White
- Consider Bxf6 to win the bishop pair or damage Black's pawns.
- Meet 2...Ne4 with Bf4 or Bh4 and prepare f3 and e4.
- Build a broad centre and exploit the space from the bishop pair.
- Keep the game in low-theory channels you understand better.
- In the ...c5 lines, choose between 3.Bxf6 and the sharp 3.d5.
Black
- Challenge the bishop at once with 2...Ne4, gaining a tempo.
- Strike at the centre with ...c5 to question the early bishop move.
- Accept doubled pawns when the bishop pair and open lines compensate.
- Complete development quickly and work to equalise the structure.
- Choose solid ...e6 and ...d5 setups to blunt White's initiative.