for White · intermediate

Trompowsky Attack

3/3
1.d4Nf62.Bg5

White pins the knight immediately and sidesteps mainstream Indian and Queen's Gambit theory. It is an offbeat, aggressive way to take Black out of preparation and impose White's own structures early.

Key ideas
  • Pin the f6-knight and be ready to double Black's pawns with Bxf6
  • Steer the game away from heavy mainline theory
  • Exploit the bishop pair or damaged pawns depending on Black's reply
  • Set up a comfortable centre with c3, e3 and Nd2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Trompowsky Attack6.0M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
Classical Defense29%1.7M48%
21%1.3M49%
15%921k48%
15%903k48%
5.9%352k46%
5.4%320k52%
4.1%243k48%
1.8%110k52%
0.8%45k47%
0.5%30k45%
Famous games in this line23k master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2864) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2803)20131–0Carlsen, M. (2832) – So, W. (2815)2017½–½Carlsen, M. (2853) – Karjakin, Sergey (2772)2016½–½Nakamura, Hi (2788) – Carlsen, M. (2830)2023½–½Mamedyarov, S. (2809) – Kramnik, V. (2800)2018½–½Duda, J. (2740) – Carlsen, M. (2864)20221–0Nakamura, Hi (2789) – Aronian, L. (2812)20141–0Mamedyarov, S. (2808) – Ding Liren (2791)20181–0
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Duda, J. · Nakamura, Hi · Mamedyarov, S.
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Trompowsky Attack: Classical Defense2…e6 · 1 deeper lineTrompowsky Attack: Edge Variation2…Ne4 3.Bh4 · 1 deeper lineTrompowsky Attack: Raptor Variation2…Ne4 3.h4 · 1 deeper lineTrompowsky Attack: Classical Defense, Big Center Variation2…e6 3.e4
Study this opening
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