Trompowsky: 2...Ne4 3.Bh4 c5

Trompowsky: 2…Ne4 3.Bh4 c5

Definition & Move-order

This variation arises from the Trompowsky Attack:

1. 1.d4 Nf6
2. 2.Bg5 Ne4 (the knight immediately questions the bishop)
3. 3.Bh4 c5 (Black counters in the centre instead of repeating …d5 or …g6)

Common ECO code: A45 (sometimes listed under A45/46 hybrids). It is occasionally nick-named the “Vaganian Counter-gambit,” after Armenian GM Rafael Vaganian, an early practitioner of the idea.

Strategic Ideas for White

• Preserve the light-squared bishop: the pin on the knight has vanished, but the bishop can still become dangerous along the a2–g8 diagonal.
• Decide on the pawn centre:
  • 4.d5 – fixing space, often leading to Benoni-style structures after …g6 or …Qb6.
  • 4.f3 – challenging the knight on e4, frequently steering into sharp gambit play (…g5 and …Qb6 ideas).
  • 4.e3 or 4.Nd2 – quieter methods, intending c2-c3 & e2-e4 later.
• Exploit dark-square weaknesses if Black plays …g7-g5 (a main branch). The typical motif is h2-h4 followed by sacrificing a pawn for open lines.

Strategic Ideas for Black

• Immediate central counterstrike: …c5 tries to demonstrate that White’s early bishop sortie neglected the centre.
• Dynamic pawn sacrifice prospects: after 4.f3 g5! Black may throw pawns forward, relying on piece activity and the exposed White king.
• Transpositions to familiar defences:
  • After 4.d5 Qb6 Black can head into an improved Benko, Benoni or Blumenfeld structure.
  • After 4.e3 Qb6 5.Nd2 Nxg5 6.Ngf3 Black regains the bishop pair and aims for a Queen’s Gambit-type game with active pieces.

Typical Continuations

The four most important replies for White are shown below.

• 4.d5 Qb6 5.Nd2 Nxd2 6.Qxd2 Qxb2 7.Rd1 – material imbalance, unbalanced play.
• 4.f3 Qa5+ 5.c3 g5 6.fxe4 gxh4 – the notorious “Vaganian pawn-storm”; both kings become drafty.
• 4.Nd2 Nxd2 5.Qxd2 cxd4 6.Nf3 – calmer, with an IQP possible later.
• 4.e3 Qb6 5.Bd3 Nxg5 6.Nd2 – Black has ceded the bishop pair but solved development.

Historical & Practical Significance

The line first appeared in master practice in the 1940s, but its theoretical reputation grew in the 1970s when Rafael Vaganian, Bent Larsen and Lev Alburt employed it for Black with good results. Modern top grandmasters—Veselin Topalov, Levon Aronian, and Alexander Grischuk—have all wheeled it out in rapid or blitz, valuing the surprise factor and sharp play.

Illustrative Game

A classic demonstration of Black’s attacking potential:

(R.Vaganian – A.Dieckmann, Moscow 1977) – Black’s pawn avalanche on the kingside outweighed material, leading to a quick victory.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Garry Kasparov used 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 twice in his 1993 PCA World Championship match against Nigel Short. Although he chose the quieter 3.Bxf6 lines, his second GM Yuri Dokhoian had prepared the 3.Bh4 c5 gambit as a surprise weapon for the rapid playoff that never happened.
• In bullet and blitz, engines rate the position after 4.f3 Qa5+ 5.c3 g5 roughly equal, but club players often panic with White and suffer quick defeats—making the variation a favourite in online skittles.
• Because Black often hurls the g-pawn forward early, the line has earned the tongue-in-cheek nickname “The Tromp who yells ‘Charge!’”.

When to Choose This Line

Black players who:

• Enjoy unbalanced, tactical middlegames.
• Prefer to seize the initiative rather than equalise quietly.
• Need a surprise weapon versus the growing popularity of the Trompowsky at club level.

White players should be prepared for concrete calculation from move 4 onward.

Summary

Trompowsky 2…Ne4 3.Bh4 c5 is a dynamic answer that tests White’s commitment to the early bishop sortie. By mixing Benoni-style pawn structures with tactical pawn storms, it ensures rich, double-edged play for both sides and remains a fertile laboratory for modern opening theory.