Queen's Pawn: 2.Nf3 Bf5 - overview

Queen's Pawn: 2.Nf3 Bf5

Definition

“Queen's Pawn: 2.Nf3 Bf5” refers to the position reached after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Bf5 in the Queen’s Pawn Game. White forgoes the immediate c2–c4 pawn thrust (typical of the Queen’s Gambit) and instead develops the g1-knight to f3. Black replies with 2…Bf5, actively placing the c8-bishop outside the pawn chain before committing to …e6. In ECO tables the line is usually classified under D00 (“Queen’s Pawn Game, Mason/Pollock Defence”).

How the Line Is Used in Practical Play

• By White: 2.Nf3 keeps options flexible—White may transpose into a London System (with Bf4), a Colle, a Torre Attack (with Bg5), or still play c2–c4 later and reach Queen’s Gambit structures.
• By Black: 2…Bf5 aims to solve the “bad-bishop” problem of the Queen’s Pawn defenses early, exerting pressure on c2 and e4 squares and preparing …e6 or …c6 without locking the bishop in.

Strategic & Positional Themes

1. Light-Squared Control: With the bishop on f5, Black targets the c2–e4 diagonal. White must decide whether to challenge the bishop with Bd3, Nh4, or Qb3, or to ignore it and focus on rapid development.
2. Pawn Structure Flexibility: Because c4 has not been played, neither side is yet committed to the classical Queen’s Gambit pawn tension. The center often remains fluid for several more moves.
3. Early Asymmetry: The line avoids the massive theory of the Queen’s Gambit Declined and the Slav, often steering the game into less explored middlegames where understanding trumps memorization.

Historical Notes

The move 2…Bf5 was popularized in the late 19^th century by William Pollock, giving rise to the old name “Pollock Defence.” Although it never achieved the mainstream status of the QGD, it has repeatedly surfaced as a surprise weapon—Victor Korchnoi, Levon Aronian, and Vladimir Kramnik have all tried it to sidestep heavy preparation.

Example Game

The miniature below shows typical tactical ideas for both sides:

• White’s early Qb3 put immediate pressure on b7 and challenged the bishop on f5.
• Black’s attempt to keep the extra pawn left the back rank vulnerable, culminating in a tactical mating net.

Typical Plans

• For White
  • Break with c4 later, transforming into a Queen’s Gambit with the bonus of an already-developed knight.
  • Execute the “London-style” setup: Bf4, e3, Nbd2, c3, h3, aiming for a slow kingside squeeze.
  • Target the f5-bishop by Bd3 or Nh4, sometimes winning the bishop pair.
• For Black
  • Follow up with …e6, …Nf6, …c6 and a solid Caro-Kann-flavored structure.
  • Seek kingside expansion via …h6 and …g5 if White castles short and allows it.
  • Exploit the half-open e-file after potential …e5 pawn breaks.

Illustrative Position

After 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Bf5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Qb3, the board looks roughly like this:

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Because the line avoids early contact in the center, many club players employ it as a “system” opening, banking on strategic, not tactical, familiarity.
• In the 2012 London Chess Classic, Vladimir Kramnik surprised Levon Aronian with 2…Bf5 and obtained an easily playable position, illustrating the variation’s value even at elite level.
• Engines initially evaluated 2…Bf5 with slight skepticism, but modern neural-network engines (e.g., Leela, Stockfish 15 NNUE) now consider it fully respectable, often suggesting early …c6 to buttress the center.

Key Takeaways

2…Bf5 is an enterprising response to the flexible 2.Nf3 Queen’s Pawn setup. It grants Black rapid development and piece activity at the cost of revealing his bishop early. Both sides must navigate a rich middlegame landscape unburdened by heavy theory, making the variation an attractive choice for creative players.