Trompowsky Attack

Trompowsky Attack
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
f6 black knight
g5 white bishop
d4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
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Moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5
ECO A45
Named after Octavio Trompowsky
Parent Queen's Pawn game
Synonym(s) The Zot

The Trompowsky Attack is a chess opening that begins with the moves:

1. d4 Nf6
2. Bg5

With his second move, White intends to exchange his bishop for Black's knight, inflicting doubled pawns upon Black in the process. This is not a lethal threat; Black can choose to fall in with White's plan.

The Trompowsky is a popular alternative to the more common lines after 1.d4 Nf6 beginning 2.c4 or 2.Nf3. By playing 2.Bg5, White sidesteps immense bodies of opening theory of various Indian Defences like the Queen's Indian, King's Indian, Nimzo-Indian, as well as the Grünfeld Defence.

The opening is named after the one-time Brazilian champion Octavio Trompowsky (1897–1984) who played it in the 1930s and 1940s. The Trompowsky has also been called The Zot.[1]

Julian Hodgson and Antoaneta Stefanova are among several grandmasters who often employ the Trompowsky.


Main lines

Black has a number of ways to meet the Trompowsky, some of which avoid doubled pawns, while others allow them. The most common Black responses are discussed here.

1.d4 d5 2.Bg5

White can also play 2. Bg5 after 1. d4 d5. This is known as the Pseudo-Trompowsky, Hodgson Attack, Levitsky Attack, Queen's Bishop Attack, and Bishop Attack, and is covered in ECO code D00. Play can transpose to the Trompowsky if Black plays 2...Nf6.

1.d4 f5 2.Bg5

White can also play 2.Bg5 against the Dutch Defense, 1...f5, and it is a common alternative to the mainline 2.g3.

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

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