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Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation

ECO code
A45
Moves
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About this variation

After 2...Ne4, White retreats with 3. Bh4, keeping the bishop and preparing f3 to drive the knight away.

The Edge Variation is 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bh4. Black chases the bishop with the knight, and White retreats to h4 instead of the more common 3. Bf4. The idea is to keep the bishop on the h4-d8 diagonal and drive the knight from e4 with f3 later.

Black's main replies are 3...c5, striking at d4, 3...d5, building a solid center, and 3...g5, chasing the bishop again. After 3...g5 4. f3 gxh4 5. fxe4, bishop and knight have been traded: White has a strong pawn center, while Black has the bishop pair but doubled h-pawns. Black usually continues 5...c5, and the position becomes very unbalanced.

White's plans include f3 to drive the knight from e4, e4 to build a strong center, and Nd2 or Nc3 for quick development. White often aims for a big center and fast piece play.

Black's ideas include ...c5 and ...Qb6 to pressure b2 and d4, ...d5 to keep the knight supported on e4, and ...g5 to win the bishop pair. Black aims to show that the bishop on h4 is out of play.

A common mistake for White is to forget that f3 takes the best square from the knight on g1, so White must find another way to develop the kingside. A common mistake for Black is to keep the knight on e4 without support.

This line suits White players who like unbalanced positions and are willing to study a few concrete lines. Black players should know the ...g5 and ...c5 ideas, which are the most testing.

One concrete line is 3...c5 4. f3 g5 5. fxe4 gxh4 6. e3, when White has a big center and Black has the bishop pair and open lines. Both sides need precise play, and the position rewards calculation.

Many players with White prefer 3. Bf4 for that reason, so the Edge Variation is mainly a surprise weapon.

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

Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation statistics

The Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation was reached in 11,506 master games (<0.1% of all master games), and White scored 54% from there. On Lichess it comes up in <0.1% of games, most often among players rated 2201–2400 (<0.1%).

Master games

11,506

<0.1% of games between players rated 2500+

Club games on Lichess

22,918

<0.1% of games between players rated up to 2400

White wins Draws Black wins

How often it comes up, by rating

  • 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... c54,62040%
3... d54,08836%
3... g52,09418%
3... c63503.0%
3... g61151.0%

Famous players with the most games here

  • Daniel Naroditsky 57 games
  • Eric Rosen 16 games

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

Other Trompowsky Attack variations