Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Trompowsky Attack
Meet 1...Nf6 with 2.Bg5 and threaten to double Black’s pawns, and learn how Black can answer.
The idea
White meets 1...Nf6 with 2.Bg5 and goes for the knight at once.
- The bishop leaves c1 on move two and attacks the knight on f6.
- If Bxf6, only a pawn can take back, and Black’s f-pawns are doubled.
- With the bishop gone from c1, nothing guards the pawn on b2.
In a game: After 1.d4 Nf6, 2.Bg5 at once threatens to double Black’s f-pawns.
How the lesson begins
After 1.d4 Nf6, the Trompowsky Attack is 2.Bg5. The bishop comes out before any knight and attacks the knight on f6 at once.
White threatens Bxf6. Black could only take back with a pawn, from e7 or from g7, and either way Black would have two pawns on the f-file. Among players rated 2000 and above on Lichess, White scores 51% after 2.Bg5.
Find the move
Black to move. Your knight on f6 is attacked. Move it to a square where it attacks the bishop on g5 in return.
A hint
Go forward, towards the centre.
Show the answer
2... Ne4
2...Ne4 is the most played reply among players rated 2000 and above, in 31% of their games. No white piece attacks the knight on e4, and now the bishop has to move or be guarded.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | Too few games |
| 800 to 1199 | 0.4 |
| 1200 to 1599 | 0.8 |
| 1600 to 1999 | 1.5 |
| 2000 and up | 4.7 |
How the games ended
White won 48%, 6% were drawn and Black won 46%, over 2,696 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.