Torre Attack
You play White · 10 variations
Mixed practice
The machine picks a different variation every time.
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10 positions: find the next theory move in each. No take-backs, no hints.
Main variations · 9
- Torre AttackD031. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Nbd7 6. Nbd2 Bd66 moves
- Torre AttackD031. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Nbd7 6. Nbd2 Be76 moves
- Torre AttackD031. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e3 c5 5. Nbd2 Nc6 6. c36 moves
- Torre AttackD031. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Bd36 moves
- Torre AttackD031. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. Nbd2 Be7 5. c3 Nbd7 6. e36 moves
- Torre AttackD031. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e3 Nbd7 5. Bd35 moves
- Torre Attack, Grünfeld Variation, Main LineA481. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 O-O5 moves
- Torre Attack, Breyer VariationA461. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 d5 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Qb65 moves
- Classical Defense, Petrosian GambitA461. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 b6 5. d55 moves
Other variations · 1
What is the Torre Attack?
The Torre Attack begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5, pinning or threatening to pin the f6-knight before Black's position has settled. You usually follow with e3, c3, Nbd2 and Bd3, a solid Colle-like structure but with the dark-squared bishop developed outside the pawn chain. It is positional with real attacking potential: the bishop on g5 and a later e4 break can create serious pressure. It is a respectable system rather than a main-line opening, easy to learn and popular at club level, and it also arises after 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5.
Main ideas and plans
Your main plan is e3, Nbd2, c3 and Bd3, castling short, then the e4 break, often after Qe2 or Qc2. Bxf6 can damage Black's structure or remove a key defender, and when Black plays ...h6 you choose between keeping the pin with Bh4 and taking on f6. Black's most testing idea is an early ...c5 with ...Qb6 hitting b2, as in the Breyer Variation, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 d5 4.e3 c5 5.c3 Qb6, where you must decide between defending with Qb3 or Qc1 and giving up the b-pawn for development. Sharper options are the Wagner Gambit, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e4, and the Petrosian Gambit, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 b6 5.d5, where the d-pawn gains central space.
Against the Fianchetto Defense, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5, the pin is less effective because Black's bishop will defend from g7, so you usually play Nbd2, e3 and c3 and aim for e4 or for exchanging on f6 at a useful moment. In the Grünfeld Variation main line, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5 Bg7 4.Nbd2 d5 5.e3 O-O, the game is quiet and strategic, with White continuing c3, Bd3 or Be2 and O-O. Typical black counterplay includes ...c5 with ...Qb6, ...Ne4 to challenge the bishop, and ...h6 to ask the bishop where it is going.
Who is it for?
The Torre suits players who like a fixed system with genuine attacking chances and do not want to learn the large body of Queen's Gambit theory. The risks are modest, but you must watch the b2 pawn, which becomes weak once the bishop has left c1, and you should not expect to refute anything: Black has several comfortable ways to equalise. First learn how to meet the early ...c5 and ...Qb6 idea, then when to exchange on f6 and when to keep the bishop with Bh4.