Trompowsky: 2...e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Qd2
Trompowsky: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Qd2
Definition
This line is a modern branch of the Trompowsky Attack, an opening that begins with 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5. After Black’s reply 2…e6, White chooses the energetic pawn thrust 3.e4 instead of the older main move 3.Nf3. The sequence continues with 3…h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6, when White develops quickly with 5.Nc3. By inserting …d6 and Qd2, the players reach a flexible formation where White retains a broad pawn center while Black aims for solid development and a later …c5 break.
Typical Move-Order
The complete tabiya arises after:
- 1. d4 Nf6
- 2. Bg5 e6
- 3. e4 h6
- 4. Bxf6 Qxf6
- 5. Nc3 d6
- 6. Qd2
The move order is important: White delays Nf3 so the f-pawn remains free to advance to f4, or the knight can sometimes head to e2 or h3. Black’s early …h6 stops the immediate pin but weakens g6, a long-term target.
Strategic Ideas
- White
- Maintain the central pawn duo e4–d4, frequently supporting it with f2-f4.
- Castle queenside after 6.Qd2, launching a pawn storm on the kingside with g2-g4 and h2-h4.
- Exploit the slightly weakened dark squares (g6, f5) created by …h6.
- Black
- Counter in the center with …c5 or …d5, trying to undermine White’s pawns.
- Develop harmoniously via …Be7, …Nd7, and castle kingside, counting on solidity.
- Keep an eye on the f2–f4 push; sometimes …g5 is used to clamp down early.
Historical & Practical Significance
While the classic Trompowsky (3.Nf3) gained popularity in the 1990s thanks to contemporaries like Julian Hodgson, the 3.e4 branch is a younger, ambitious sideline. It has found adherents among attacking players who wish to sidestep the dense theory of Queen’s Gambit lines while retaining surprise value. Grandmasters such as Baadur Jobava and Richard Rapport have used it in elite tournaments.
Illustrative Mini-Game
The following rapid game shows White’s attacking potential:
After castling long, White’s queen, bishops, and rook enter the fray, underlining the danger of Black’s loosened kingside.
Key Tactical Motifs
- e4-e5 Break: If Black delays …c5 or …d5, the central push e4-e5 can fork pieces or open lines.
- g2-g4 Lever: Idea is g4–g5 chasing the f6-knight, exposing h6 and f7.
- Queen Swing Qd2–f4/h4: The queen can pivot to either side, coordinating an assault or defending the center.
Example Position to Visualize
After 10…Nc6 11.O-O-O, imagine the pawn structure:
White’s pieces eye the kingside, while Black has yet to solve the tension in the center.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The move 3.e4 echoes an Albin Counter-Gambit in reverse; White gambits nothing, yet gains similar spatial control.
- In online blitz, this line is a favorite weapon for surprising Grünfeld or King’s Indian specialists who expect 2.c4.
- Because the bishop exchange occurs so early, endgame aficionados joke that the Trompowsky is “an endgame beginning on move four”—yet this sub-line often leads to sharp attacks!
Practical Tips
- As White, do not rush f2-f4 before completing development; otherwise …Qxf2+ tactics may appear.
- As Black, consider the prophylactic …g5 once the knight reaches f6 again; this clamps down on White’s g-pawn expansion.
- Both sides should watch the c1–h6 diagonal; a timely Bc4 (when possible) can be devastating.