Raptor Variation - Trompowsky Attack
Raptor Variation
Definition & Move-order
The Raptor Variation is an aggressive branch of the Trompowsky Attack that begins with 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.h4!?. Instead of retreating the bishop from the knight’s attack, White supports it with the h-pawn, immediately grabbing space on the kingside and laying the groundwork for a direct assault on Black’s monarch.
How it is used in play
The early pawn thrust serves several purposes:
- Secures the bishop on g5, keeping the pin on the f6-knight.
- Gains kingside space and prepares h4-h5-h6 or hxg6 ideas to rip open files toward Black’s king.
- Invites …Nxg5 hxg5, when the half-open h-file and doubled g-pawns give White long-term attacking hooks.
Black usually replies with one of three set-ups:
- 3…d5 – thematic central counter.
- 3…c5 – transposing to Benoni-style positions.
- 3…h6 4.Bf4 or …Nxg5 – forcing an early clarification.
Strategic Significance
- Imbalance on move 3: White shows attacking intent at the cost of loosening the own king and conceding the bishop pair if Black captures on g5.
- Long-term pressure: After …Nxg5 hxg5, White’s rook can slide to h4-h1, often supported by Qd2 and 0-0-0.
- Central flexibility: Because the c-pawn and e-pawn are still at home, White can later choose between e2-e4 King’s-Indian-type structures or c2-c4 Benoni setups, depending on how Black reacts.
Historical Notes
The line was popularised in the early 1990s by English GM Julian Hodgson, whose love of off-beat attacking ideas earned many spectacular wins. The dinosaur-inspired name – a playful echo of the Pterodactyl Variation in the Modern Defence – was coined around the same time; a “raptor” was deemed an apt metaphor for the bishop on g5, poised to pounce with the newly-advanced h-pawn acting as its talon.
Illustrative Mini-Line
One typical continuation is:
Here White has surrendered the light-squared bishop but enjoys a half-open h-file, more space on the kingside, and clear targets on g7 and h7.
Famous Games
- Hodgson – Rogers, London 1994 – the English GM uncorked a brilliant rook lift Rh4-h1 to score a model attacking win.
- Volkov – Rublevsky, Russian Ch. 2000 – demonstrates the central ‑ and queenside counterplay Black can generate after 3…c5.
Practical Tips
- After …d5, place the queen on d2 and decide later whether to castle long or keep the king in the centre.
- Don’t rush g2-g4; often the pawn belongs on g2 to shield the own king until the centre is resolved.
- If Black plays an early …h6, dropping the bishop back to f4 keeps the h-pawn advanced, still restricting …g6 development.
Interesting Facts
- The ECO code most often associated with the Raptor is A45, the umbrella category for Trompowsky systems.
- Some textbooks refer to 3.h4 as the “Hergott System”, named after the Hungarian-American master who analysed it in the 1970s.
- Because engines evaluate the line as roughly equal but very sharp, it enjoys enduring popularity in rapid and blitz – ideal hunting grounds for the “Raptor”.