Trompowsky Attack

The Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) is a 1.d4 player's anti-prep weapon. By pinning the f6 knight on move two, White sidesteps the King's Indian, Grünfeld, Nimzo-Indian, and every other Indian defence Black has memorised. Named after Brazilian master Octavio Trompowsky, the line was a niche surprise until English grandmaster Julian Hodgson made it a serious main weapon in the 1990s. Today it's a respectable 1.d4 alternative that scores well at every level.

Main line: 2...e6 (Classical)

Black's safest reply is 2...e6, preparing to challenge the bishop with ...h6 or to play ...Be7 and unpin. After 3.e4 (a sharp gambit) or 3.Nf3 (calmer), the game becomes a French / Queen's Indian hybrid. Black is solid but a bit cramped; White has more space and the active bishop.

Variations

Vaganian Gambit (2...Ne4 3.Bf4 c5)

Black's most aggressive reply. The knight steps out of the pin and Black plays ...c5 immediately to challenge the centre. White can play 4.d5 grabbing space or 4.f3 kicking the knight. The position becomes a tactical Modern Benoni / English hybrid. Considered Black's most ambitious try.

2...c5 (Trompowsky vs Benoni)

Black immediately challenges the centre. After 3.d5 (or 3.Bxf6 first, then d5), Black plays ...Qb6 hitting b2, and White has to defend or sacrifice. Sharp and well-analysed - if you play the Tromp as White, you need to know what to do here.

2...d5 (Pseudo-Trompowsky / Torre-style)

Black plays solidly, mirroring with ...d5. The game often transposes into Torre Attack structures (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bg5). White typically continues 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.e3 with a slow positional game where the doubled f-pawns are both a weakness and a strength.

Common traps

Don't play ...Qxb2 too easily: in lines where Black's queen comes out to b6 hitting b2, the standard ...Qxb2 can run into Nc3 trapping the queen. Always count moves and squares before grabbing pawns deep in your opponent's territory.

After ...h6 Bxf6, watch the long diagonal: when White trades the bishop on f6 and Black recaptures with the queen or g-pawn, the resulting structure has unique weaknesses. Black with doubled f-pawns has a half-open g-file but a weakened king; Black with queen on f6 has a misplaced queen blocking development.

Typical plans for White

The Trompowsky's main attraction is anti-preparation: White makes Black think hard from move 2 in territory most Black players haven't studied. Beyond that, the plan depends on Black's choice. Against 2...e6, play in the centre with e4 and aim for kingside expansion. Against 2...c5, react with d5 and play in the centre. Against 2...d5, accept slow positional manoeuvring and aim to win the doubled f-pawns in the endgame.

If you want to avoid 50 moves of Indian theory as White, the Trompowsky is your shortcut. The drills below cover all four main Black replies.