Trompowsky: 2...Ne4 3.Bh4 d5
Trompowsky: 2…Ne4 3.Bh4 d5
Definition
The sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bh4 d5 is a main-line branch of the Trompowsky Attack, an opening that begins with the early pinning move 2.Bg5. Black immediately questions the bishop with 2…Ne4; after the retreat 3.Bh4, the counter-thrust 3…d5 stakes out central space and frees the dark-squared bishop, leading to dynamic and often unbalanced play.
Move Order & Basic Position
The critical position arises after:
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.Bg5 Ne4 (Black attacks the bishop and gains a tempo on g5.)
- 3.Bh4 d5 (Black occupies the centre and prepares …c5.)
Material is equal, yet both sides have made early commitments:
- White’s bishop has voluntarily ceded the g5–d8 diagonal and is temporarily passive on h4.
- Black’s knight on e4 can become a tactical target but restricts White’s typical c2–c4 break.
Strategic Ideas
- For White
- Challenge the e4-knight with Nd2 or f3, trying to prove that it is overextended.
- Seek quick development: e3, Bd3, Nf3, and sometimes a kingside pawn storm with h3–g4.
- Create long-term pressure on the light squares once the bishop re-emerges to g3 or f4.
- For Black
- Maintain the e4-knight as long as practical; after its exchange, use the half-open f-file.
- Build a classical centre with …c5 and …e6, often transposing to Queen’s Gambit or Slav-type pawn structures.
- Exploit the temporarily misplaced h4-bishop by gaining tempi with …h6 and …g5.
Historical & Theoretical Significance
The Trompowsky is named after the Brazilian master Octávio Trompowsky (1897-1984), who popularised 2.Bg5 in the 1930s and 1940s. Grandmasters such as Julian Hodgson, Michael Adams, and, more recently, Magnus Carlsen have used the opening as a surprise weapon. The 2…Ne4 line—sometimes called the “Main Line” or “Classical Defence”—is the most combative answer and has been the battlefield for many elite encounters, forcing White to prove compensation for the early loss of bishop activity.
Model Games & Examples
Two instructive examples illustrate the typical plans:
-
Kramnik vs. Anand, PCA Rapid (Paris) 1994 –
A textbook demonstration of how White can undermine the e4-knight with
4.Nd2 and 5.Nxe4, then roll out a rapid e- and f-pawn advance to seize
the initiative.
- Carlsen vs. Nakamura, Sinquefield Cup 2015 – Black kept the knight on e4 for seventeen moves, showing how …f7-f5 and …c7-c5 can generate counterplay. The game ended in a sharp draw, underlining the line’s fighting character.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- In many databases the position is classified under ECO code A45, but some sources break it down further as “A45/11” to denote the specific 3…d5 branch.
- Julian Hodgson famously called the e4-knight the “cork” in Black’s position; if White removes the cork early, the position “pours open like champagne.”
- The move 3…d5 was once considered questionable because of 4.f3, but modern engines show that Black can sacrifice the e4-knight after 4…Nd6 5.e3 c6 with full compensation.
Common Transpositions & Pitfalls
- After 4.Nd2 Nxd2 5.Qxd2, play can transpose to quiet Queen’s Gambit lines if Black meets 5…c6 with 6.e3.
- The premature 4.c4? allows 4…e5! when Black grabs the centre and the h4-bishop is nearly trapped.
- White must beware of the Cambridge Springs-style tactic …Qb6 hitting d4 and b2 simultaneously if the queen’s knight has not yet developed.
Conclusion
The Trompowsky 2…Ne4 3.Bh4 d5 variation is a rich, strategically diverse battleground where both sides can fight for the initiative from the very first moves. Its blend of concrete tactics and long-term positional themes makes it a favourite of creative players seeking to sidestep the voluminous theory of mainstream Queen’s Gambits and Indian Defences.