Queen's Pawn Game: Levitsky Attack
Queen's Pawn Game: Levitsky Attack
Definition
The Levitsky Attack is an off-beat variation of the Queen’s Pawn Game that begins with the moves 1. d4 d5 2. Bg5. White develops the queen’s bishop aggressively on move two, aiming to exert early psychological and positional pressure before piece development has clarified. The line is catalogued under ECO code D00 and is occasionally called the Queen’s Bishop Attack or Amazon Attack.
Typical Move Order
The opening arises after:
- 1. d4 d5
- 2. Bg5
There is no obligation for Black to reply 2…Nf6; instead, a variety of setups are possible, each leading to different middlegame structures:
- 2…Nf6 3.Bxf6 exf6 – Doubles Black’s f-pawns; White will try to exploit structural weaknesses.
- 2…c6 – Transposes to Slav-type positions while asking White to justify the early bishop sortie.
- 2…h6 3.Bh4 c6 – Black gains tempi at the cost of slightly weakening the kingside.
Illustrative miniature:
.Strategic Themes
- Psychological surprise: 2.Bg5 is uncommon at master level; unprepared opponents may waste time achieving equality.
- Early pin motif: If Black plays …Nf6, White can exchange on f6, impairing pawn structure and dark-square control.
- Flexibility: White keeps options open for c2-c4, e2-e3, or even an early g-pawn thrust depending on Black’s setup.
- Tempo questions: The bishop can become a target of …h6 and …g5, so accurate play is required to avoid loss of time.
Historical Background
The line is named after the Russian master Stepan Levitsky (1876–1924), who employed 2.Bg5 in the early 20th century. Although Levitsky is better remembered for being on the receiving end of Marshall’s famous queen sacrifice in Breslau 1912, his experimentation with unusual bishop deployments helped popularize several early-bishop systems, including this one.
Usage in Play
Because the Levitsky Attack does not stake an immediate claim in the center (unlike 2.c4 or 2.Nf3), it is rare in classical grand-master practice. It is, however, a plausible surprise weapon in blitz and rapid time controls:
- Grandmasters such as Hikaru Nakamura and Alexey Shirov have tried 2.Bg5 in online rapid events to sidestep heavy opening preparation.
- Club players use the line to avoid mainstream Queen’s Gambit theory while still remaining in 1.d4 territory.
Famous Games & Examples
- Levitsky – Rotlewi, Warsaw 1910 – White achieved a strong kingside attack after 2…Nf6 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.Nf3, highlighting Black’s weakened pawns.
- Geller – Smyslov, USSR Championship 1949 – Smyslov neutralized the bishop with an early …c6 and …Qb6, demonstrating a solid antidote.
- Nakamura – So, Chess.com Blitz 2020 – A modern online clash where Nakamura’s quick 2.Bg5 led to an unbalanced pawn structure and a rapid tactical melee.
Interesting Facts
- The ECO classification D00 groups together many irregular Queen’s Pawn sidelines; the Levitsky Attack is one of the very first entries, emphasizing its irregular character.
- Because 2.Bg5 does not block the queen, White retains the option of an early queen sortie to d2 or h5 in some gambit lines, echoing motifs from the Trompowsky Attack.
- Computer engines evaluate the position after 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 as roughly equal (≈0.20 pawns for White with current top engines), underscoring that practical surprise value rather than objective advantage is its main appeal.