Chess opening · ECO A45
Trompowsky Attack
White puts the bishop on g5 on move two in the Trompowsky, before c4 or Nf3. It pins nothing yet, since the e7 pawn stands between f6 and d8, but it threatens Bxf6, which would leave Black with doubled f-pawns after either recapture. Black must decide right away how to treat the bishop, and that choice shapes the whole opening.
- Rank by weighted share
- #109 of 159
Key moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5
- 2. Bg5The bishop develops with a threat: taking on f6 would leave Black recapturing with the e-pawn or g-pawn. It also sidesteps the big theory of c4 lines. The bishop can be hit by ...Ne4 or ...h6, so White must know where it retreats.
Jumping to e4
2...Ne4 moves the knight out of range and attacks the bishop. White usually retreats to f4 or h4, and Black hits d4 with ...c5. The knight on e4 can be kicked by f3, and in the main lines it simply drops back to f6 with White's f-pawn now committed.
Allowing the trade with 2...e6
2...e6 opens the d8 to h4 diagonal for the queen, so if White takes on f6 the queen recaptures and Black's pawns stay healthy. Black keeps the two bishops; White builds a center with e4 and develops with Nc3, gaining time if the queen on f6 is hit.
If White does not take, Black can play ...h6 to ask the question, or develop with ...c5 and ...d5.
The 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 main line
2... Ne4 3. Bf4 c5 4. f3 Qa5+ 5. c3 Nf6 6. d5
f3 drives the knight back, and the queen check on a5 provokes c3. White then pushes d5 for space, and Black's queen on a5 eyes c3 and can swing to b6 to hit b2.
Top replies by rating
e6 leads every band except 1800 to 1999, where Ne4 moves clearly ahead. From 1200 up, Ne4 holds second place in the other bands.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | e6 42% | d5 29% | h6 29% |
| 1200–1399 | e6 36% | Ne4 19% | d5 11% |
| 1400–1599 | e6 34% | Ne4 27% | d5 13% |
| 1600–1799 | e6 35% | Ne4 28% | d5 11% |
| 1800–1999 | Ne4 38% | e6 27% | g6 11% |
| 2000 and up | e6 32% | Ne4 30% | c5 16% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.