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Trompowsky Attack: Classical Defense

ECO code
A45
Moves
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About this variation

Black plays 2...e6, so that a trade on f6 can be met with ...Qxf6. It is the most solid reply.

The Classical Defense is 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6. Black prepares to recapture on f6 with the queen, keeping a healthy pawn structure, and keeps options such as ...c5, ...d5 or ...h6. It is the most solid way to meet the Trompowsky and leads to positions with balanced chances.

White's main replies are 3. e4, grabbing the center and inviting 3...h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6, and 3. Nd2 or 3. e3, keeping a flexible set-up. After 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6, White has a big center, while Black has the bishop pair and a solid position. 5. c3 is the most common follow-up, with 5. Nc3 the sharper choice.

White's plans include Nc3, Nf3 and Qd2, preparing long castling in some lines, and e5 to gain space and push back Black's queen. White aims to use the central space before Black's bishops become strong.

Black's ideas include ...d6 and ...g6 with ...Bg7, building a solid position around the bishop pair, and ...c5 or ...d5 to challenge White's center. Black aims to open the position later, when the bishops will be most effective.

A common mistake for Black is to play too slowly and let White gain more space with e5 and f4. A common mistake for White is to overextend in the center without completing development.

This line suits Black players who like solid positions with the bishop pair, and White players who are happy to give up the bishop for central space.

One concrete line is 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Qd2 g5, when Black prepares ...Bg7 and ...Nc6 and gains kingside space, while White aims for O-O-O and f4. The position is unbalanced and full of play for both sides.

It is one of the main lines of the Trompowsky Attack.

Trompowsky Attack: Classical Defense statistics

The Trompowsky Attack: Classical Defense was reached in 65,727 master games (0.3% of all master games), and White scored 52% from there. On Lichess it comes up in <0.1% of games, most often among players rated 2201–2400 (0.1%).

Master games

65,727

0.3% of games between players rated 2500+

Club games on Lichess

121.8K

<0.1% of games between players rated up to 2400

White wins Draws Black wins

How often it comes up, by rating

  • 0–1000 <0.1%
  • 1001–1200 <0.1%
  • 1201–1400 <0.1%
  • 1401–1600 <0.1%
  • 1601–1800 <0.1%
  • 1801–2000 <0.1%
  • 2001–2200 <0.1%
  • 2201–2400 0.1%

Most common next moves in master games

MoveGamesPlayedResults
3. e431,19747%
3. Nd219,17629%
3. e36,81010%
3. Nf34,7867.3%
3. Nc31,5542.4%

Famous players with the most games here

  • Levy Rozman (GothamChess) 455 games
  • Hikaru Nakamura 177 games
  • Ben Finegold 50 games
  • Eric Rosen 38 games
  • Daniel Naroditsky 36 games
  • Alexandra Botez 35 games

Master games from the Chessmont database (CC BY-SA 4.0). Club games from the Lichess open database.

Other Trompowsky Attack variations