What is your opinion of the Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5)? The leading experts of this line are Julian Hodgson (now retired) and Michael Adams, along with several of Britain's leading Grandmasters.

What do you recommend that Black plays against this?

Black should play e6 to avoid doubled pawns. If you despise the fact that white will gain the center with 3. e4 (even though white will pay the price of losing the bishop pair after3...h6) then you can opt for Ne4. Personally, I prefer e6 because it leads to a comfortable game. I would aim to put pressue on the center similar to the lines of the french defense.

What if White plays 2...e6 3.Nd2 or 3.c3 instead of e4? White could claim that he has a slightly improved Torre because he is not committed to Ngf3.

Black plays 3...h6 if White doesn't take the knight on move 2. Black creates space and puts the question to the bishop to decide its destiny. If White retreats, I suggest 4... c5 to put pressure on the d4 that is now undefended because of 3. Nd2. Players with black play 1...Nf6 to white's d4 because they want to play an Indian or Benoni opening. When white plays 3. Nd2 or 3.c3, it puts no pressure to Black opening strategies therefore I would say Black has a comfortable game.

I agree with you that 3.Nd2 doesn't give White any opening advantage, but in this particular case, 3...h6 4.Bh4 c5 5.Ne4!? seems a bit unpleasant for Black. Maybe 4...d5 and only then 5...c5 is preferable, as now the knight on d2 seems a bit misplaced.

5. Ne4 fails to 5...Qa5+. This would force either 6 Qd2 or Nd2 or Nc3. Again a comfortable game for Black

Do you want to play a correspondence game with the Trompowsky, where I play White and the starting moves are 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5?

lol! I had a feeling you were going there. Ok the. Shall we continue
his thread?

Yes, we can play the game from this thread.

The starting position is as follows:


Good luck!

lol ok. 2... e6
good luck