The Trompowsky Attack is a clever way to meet 1...Nf6 with 2.Bg5, developing the bishop and attacking the knight before Black can steer toward a King's Indian, Grünfeld or Nimzo-Indian. By offering to trade or provoke the f6-knight, White sidesteps tons of theory and gets a fresh middlegame where understanding beats memorization. It's a popular practical weapon at every level.
Play 2.Bg5 to pin or harass the f6-knight, sidestep Black's prepared defences, and aim for a comfortable game based on the bishop pair, doubled-pawn structures, or a quick central set-up with c3/e3.
White: Pin the knight with 2.Bg5, then choose a structure: retreat to f4 against ...Ne4, support the centre with c3/e3 and Nd2, and use the bishop pair or Black's structural concessions.
Black: Challenge the bishop at once with 2...Ne4 hitting g5, strike the centre with ...d5 and ...c5, and try to prove the early bishop sortie gives Black easy, active development.
To dodge theory. With 2.Bg5 you avoid the King's Indian, Grünfeld and Nimzo-Indian and reach positions where understanding the plans matters more than memorizing long lines.
Yes. It's a fully respectable opening played by strong grandmasters. It won't refute Black, but it gives White a comfortable, fighting game with little theory to learn.
Retreat the bishop, usually to f4. You keep a healthy position, and the knight on e4 can become a target. Don't leave the bishop on g5 where it can be captured.
BetterChess is a practice tool — we make no guarantee you'll reach 1800 or any rating. The lines here are standard, well-established opening theory, and every move is checked legal with the same engine the board runs.