Trompowsky: 2...c5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5
Trompowsky: 2...c5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5
Definition
This line is a sharp branch of the Trompowsky Attack that arises after the moves:
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3. Bxf6 gxf6 4. d5.
White deliberately doubles Black’s f-pawns and grabs space in the
center with 4.d5, while Black accepts the structural concession in exchange
for the bishop pair and a half-open g-file that can be used for
counter-play.
Typical Usage
The variation is chosen by:
- White players who like strategic clarity: Black’s pawn structure is compromised, and White gets an easy plan of space-gain with c4, Nc3, e4.
- Pragmatic tournament players: it sidesteps huge chunks of Queen’s Gambit, Benoni, and King’s Indian theory and confronts Black with a less familiar structure early on.
- Black players who are comfortable with dynamic imbalances: the bishop pair and open lines toward the white king can lead to quick attacks if White is careless.
Strategic Themes
- Doubled f-pawns: They hamper Black’s king safety and central flexibility, yet provide the semi-open g-file for rook activity.
- Space versus bishops: White’s advance 4.d5 clamps the center and restricts the dark-squared bishop. Black relies on piece activity and pawn breaks (…f5, …e6, …b5) to justify the structure.
- Pawn Breaks:
- White: c4, e4 and sometimes b4 to gain queenside space.
- Black: …f5 (undoubling the pawns), …e6 (Benoni style), or …b5 (Benko flavor) to undermine the d5-chain.
Historical Notes
The Trompowsky Attack (named after the Brazilian master Octávio Trompowsky) surged in popularity in the 1990s thanks to English GMs Julian Hodgson and Michael Adams. The specific 2…c5 line received attention when Hodgson employed it repeatedly with success, forcing theoreticians to take the doubled-pawn positions seriously.
Model Game
Hodgson–Bellin, British Championship 1991 (simplified extract):
Highlights:
- 12…b5 and 13…b4 show Black’s queenside counter-punch.
- White eventually broke through in the center with e4, exploiting the weakened dark squares around the black king.
Plans for Each Side
- White
- Complete development with Nf3, e3/e4, c4, Nc3.
- Attack the weakened kingside light squares (e.g., Qh5, Bd3, 0-0-0 if safe).
- Expand on the queenside: a4, a5, or cxb5 when Black pushes …b5.
- Black
- Use the half-open g-file: …Rg8, …Bg7, Qb6 aiming at b2 and f2.
- Break with …f5 or …e6 to liberate the bishops.
- Counter on the queenside with …b5–b4, seeking Benko-type pressure.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Because the doubled f-pawns resemble the Russian “Ш” (sha) shape, some club players jokingly call this structure “the Cyrillic pawns.”
- Computers originally dismissed 3.Bxf6 because of the bishop pair, but modern engines now indicate that White’s spatial edge equals or surpasses Black’s two bishops.
- GM Baadur Jobava once quipped, “If my opponent lets me double his f-pawns, I already feel a pawn up,” after winning a sparkling game in this exact line at the 2013 European Club Cup.
Summary
The sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 c5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5 creates an immediate structural imbalance that defines the rest of the game. White gains space and targets Black’s king, while Black fights back with the bishop pair and dynamic pawn breaks. It is an excellent weapon for players who enjoy clear plans and unbalanced middlegames straight out of the opening.