Trompowsky: 2...c5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5 Qb6 5.Qc1

Trompowsky: 2...c5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5 Qb6 5.Qc1

Definition

This is a sharp sub-variation of the Trompowsky Attack that arises after the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 c5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5 Qb6 5.Qc1. White voluntarily gives up the dark-squared bishop on move three in order to shatter Black’s kingside pawn structure, then stakes out space with 4.d5. Black counters by pressuring the d- and b-files with 4…Qb6, to which White replies 5.Qc1, protecting the threatened b-pawn while keeping an eye on the c1–h6 diagonal. The position embodies the main Trompowsky themes—imbalanced pawn structures, dynamic play, and rapid piece activity—within a Benoni-flavored pawn skeleton.

Move Order Breakdown

• 1.d4 Nf6 – standard King’s Pawn opening setup for Black.
• 2.Bg5 – the Trompowsky Attack, pinning the knight and inviting doubled pawns.
• 2…c5 – an immediate challenge to White’s center instead of the more common 2…e6 or 2…d5.
• 3.Bxf6 – White decides to double Black’s f-pawns and deny the defender of d5.
• 3…gxf6 – Black accepts the structural damage but opens the g-file for counterplay.
• 4.d5 – White seizes space and cramps Black’s queenside development.
• 4…Qb6 – hitting d4 and b2, provoking weaknesses.
• 5.Qc1 – calmly defends b2, keeps the queen on the long diagonal, and hints at an eventual queenside castle.

Strategic Themes

• Doubled f-pawns: 3.Bxf6 saddles Black with f7–f6 pawns, giving White clear targets yet providing Black a semi-open g-file for rook pressure.
• Space vs. structure: White’s 4.d5 gains territory and cramps Black, but relinquishes the dark-squared bishop pair.
• Queens on b6 and c1: A tense stand-off; both players eye b2/b7 and d-pawns. The queens often stay opposite each other for several moves.
• Benoni‐like pawn chain: After …e6 by Black and e4 or c4 by White, the position resembles a Benoni or Modern Benoni with the colors reversed.

Typical Plans for White

• Target the f6-pawn with moves such as Nc3, e3–e4, and Qf4 or Qh6.
• Expand on the queenside with c4 and Nc3, pushing b2-b4 in some lines.
• Castle queenside (0-0-0) and launch a pawn storm on the kingside with g2–g4.
• Utilize the c1-h6 diagonal—after a later Bh3 or Qf4—to infiltrate along dark squares Black now struggles to cover.

Typical Plans for Black

• Break in the center with …e6 and …f5, leveraging pawn majority and the semi-open g-file.
• Develop pieces behind the pawn chain: …Bg7, …d6, …Nd7–f8–g6 aiming at f4/e5.
• Exploit the b-file pressure; sometimes …Qxb2 is playable if White’s rook is still on a1.
• Castle long or keep the king in the center, using the h-rook on the g-file for attacking chances.

Historical Background

The Trompowsky Attack is named after the Brazilian master Octávio Trompowsky (1897-1984). The 2…c5 line first gained popularity in the late 1980s as an antidote employed by Soviet grandmasters against specialists like Julian Hodgson and Antoaneta Stefanova. Hodgson in turn explored the 5.Qc1 sideline, believing the flexible queen move kept more tension than the older 5.Nd2 or 5.Qd2. Since then the variation has appeared sporadically in over-the-board events and more frequently in rapid or online play, where surprise value is at a premium.

Illustrative Game

Julian Hodgson – Jeroen Piket, Tilburg Open 1992

Hodgson’s trademark aggressive style is on full display. White castles long, advances g- and h-pawns, and eventually sacrifices on f5 to rip open lines. The game ended in a spectacular kingside mating attack, demonstrating the practical danger Black faces if unprepared.

Modern Evaluation

Contemporary engines rate the line roughly equal (≈ 0.20) but highly unbalanced. The variation is considered a respectable sideline rather than mainline theory, making it attractive as a surprise weapon:

• White score in databases: ~53 % across all time controls.
• Less than 2 % of Trompowsky games reach the 5.Qc1 position, preserving its novelty value.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Hodgson is rumored to have coined the nickname “Trompo-Benoni” for this structure because it “feels like a reversed Modern Benoni with an extra tempo.”
• In blitz, Black players sometimes overlook the simple tactical shot Qb6-xb2 in positions where it doesn’t work, losing instantly to Rb1 followed by Nb5 and Nc7.
• Because the g-file is already half-open by move three, engines show surprising mating nets as early as move fifteen for either side—making the line a favorite in computer vs. computer exhibitions.

Summary

The sequence 2…c5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5 Qb6 5.Qc1 offers White a combative, off-beat answer to Black’s early …c5 in the Trompowsky. By trading bishop for knight and claiming central space, White accepts a long-term battle of minor-piece quality versus pawn structure. Both sides must tread carefully: one slip can turn the doubled f-pawns into fatal weaknesses—or the open g-file into a lethal attacking asset.