Trompowsky Attack Edge Variation
Trompowsky Attack – Edge Variation
Definition
The Edge Variation is a sharp branch of the Trompowsky Attack that begins after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4. White immediately challenges the knight, not with the customary 3. Bf4 or 3. Bh4, but by advancing a rook-pawn on the side (the “edge” of the board): 3. h4 !? (Some older sources also group the line 3. Bf4 c5 under the same name, but modern literature reserves “Edge Variation” for the provocative 3. h4.)
Typical Move Order
The first moves usually follow one of two main paths:
- Main Line: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. h4 c5 4. d5 h6 5. Bf4 d6
- Immediate Capture: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. h4 Nxg5 4. hxg5 d5
After 3…c5, Black hits the center while White’s h-pawn cramps kingside development. When Black accepts the bishop with 3…Nxg5, the recapture hxg5 opens the h-file, giving White long-term attacking chances against a kingside that has lost its natural knight defender.
Strategic Ideas and Plans
- White
- Destabilise the knight on f6 (or g5 after an exchange) and weaken the g- and h-files for a direct attack.
- Create a space-gaining “hook” on g5/h5 which can be used later for a pawn storm (g2–g4, h4–h5).
- Keep a flexible centre; often c2-c4 or e2-e4 is delayed until the intentions of Black’s c-pawn become clear.
- Black
- Punish the early flank pawn by striking in the centre with …c5 and, in many lines, …Qb6.
- Exploit the slight weakening of White’s own king. If White castles queenside, …Qa5+ and …Bf5 ideas are common.
- When playing …Nxg5, aim for solid structure with …d5 and quick piece development, trusting that the bishop pair and sound centre outweigh the open h-file.
Historical Background
The line appeared sporadically in the 1970s but gained real traction after the English IM Julian Hodgson (a noted Trompowsky pioneer) used it to upset several grandmasters in the early 1990s. Its surprise value attracted attacking players such as Alexander Morozevich and, more recently, Hikaru Nakamura in rapid time-controls.
Illustrative Mini-Game
[[Pgn| d4 Nf6|Bg5 Ne4|h4 c5|d5 h6|Bf4 Qb6|Nd2 Qxb2|Nxe4 Qb4+|Nd2 Qxf4|e3 Qe5|Ngf3 Qxd5|Bc4 Qd6|Qe2 e6 |arrows|h4h5,c5c4|squares|h5,g5]]In this 2015 blitz encounter (Nakamura–So, Internet Blitz), White’s edge pawn discouraged kingside castling, and Black’s queen excursion eventually allowed Nakamura to whip up a rapid attack despite the material imbalance.
Practical Usage Tips
- Suitable for players who enjoy unbalanced middlegames and are willing to sacrifice pawns for long-term pressure.
- Time controls: extremely effective in rapid and blitz, where the unusual pawn thrust often burns opponent clock time.
- Preparation: study typical queen traps; after 3…c5 4.d5 Qb6 5.Nd2 Qxb2?! White scores heavily thanks to tactics on c8 and b7.
Interesting Facts
- The name “Edge Variation” alludes both to the flank pawn push and to the intention of playing “on the edge” strategically—provoking complications.
- Julian Hodgson once called 3. h4 his “fishing pole in reverse”—borrowing the idea of hooking a piece on g5 from an inverted perspective.
- Although engines initially dislike White’s third move, modern neural-net evaluations (Lc0, NNUE) often reassess the positions as dynamically equal once deeper search confirms the attacking resources.
Further Study
To deepen your repertoire, compare the Edge Variation with two related Trompowsky branches:
- Trompowsky Attack Main Line (2…d5 3.Bxf6)
- Raptor Variation (2…c5)