Trompowsky Attack

Magnus Carlsen's favorite aggressive weapon to bypass theory and dominate from move two with 2.Bg5!

The Trompowsky Attack (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) is one of the most feared and dynamic weapons in modern chess. Popularized by Brazilian master Octávio Trompowsky and embraced at the world championship level by Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, and Levon Aronian, it instantly sidesteps the heavy theoretical mazes of the Nimzo-Indian, King's Indian, and Grünfeld defenses. By pinning or threatening to capture the f6-knight on move two, White dictates an asymmetrical fight, destroying Black's pawn structure or seizing undisputed central control. In these 10 master lines, you will master the critical responses 2...Ne4, 2...e6, 2...d5, and 2...c5, while exploiting lethal tactical traps on the poisoned b2-pawn.

Chapter 1: Reactions with 2...Ne4 & 2...e6

How to handle the aggressive knight jump 2...Ne4 or the solid 2...e6, chasing Black's pieces away or building a dominant e4-d4 pawn center.

  1. Main Line with 2...Ne4: Retreat to f4 and f3 Thrust 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.f3 Qa5+ 5.c3 Nf6…
  2. Sharp Line with 3.Bh4 g5: Central Break and Conquest 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bh4 g5 4.f3 gxh4 5.fxe4 Bg7…
  3. Solid 2...e6 Response: Seizing the Full Center with 3.e4 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nf3 d6…
  4. Positional Setup with 3.Nd2: Firm Control of e4 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.Nd2 Be7 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5…
  5. Early Checkmate Trap: Punishing 3...g5 Aggression 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 g5 4.Bg3 Bg7 5.e3 d5…

Chapter 2: Reactions with 2...d5 & 2...c5 (Poisoned b2 Pawn)

Doubling Black's pawns with Bxf6 against 2...d5 or sacrificing the b2-pawn against 2...c5 to trap Black's overambitious queen.

  1. 2...d5 Variation: Ruining Black's Structure with 3.Bxf6 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.e3 Bd6 5.c4 dxc4…
  2. Poisoned b2 Pawn Gambit: 2...c5 3.d5 Qb6 4.Nc3! 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 c5 3.d5 Qb6 4.Nc3 Qxb2 5.Bd2 Qb6…
  3. Solid Line vs 2...c5: Exchange 3.Bxf6 and 4.d5 Clamp 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 c5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5 Qb6 5.Qc1 Bg7…
  4. Intruding Queen Trap: Capture on a3 and Rb3 Net 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 c5 3.d5 Qb6 4.Nc3 Qxb2 5.Bd2 Qa3…
  5. Trompowsky vs Passive 2...d6: Total Central Dominance 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d6 3.e4 Nbd7 4.Nd2 e5 5.c3 Be7…