Chessy
Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation — play the key position
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bh4, you reach a sharp-looking but actually very balanced position. Stockfish rates this -0.05, so the game is dead level and neither side is better out of the opening. That makes this a great drill position: you are not trying to “win by theory,” but to choose the most accurate reaction and handle the common replies cleanly. Focus on the main move, the typical alternatives, and the mistakes that can give your opponent an easy edge.
Play the Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill now and test your reaction move by move. Create a free account to keep practising this opening position.
Create a free account →What the engine wants here
In this exact position, the engine’s best move is g5. The main continuation given is g5 f3 gxh4 fxe4, which shows that the position can become tactical very quickly. For White, the important lesson is simple: after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bh4, Black’s most ambitious reply is the one you should know first. If you understand that idea, you will be much better prepared for the drill below.
What the database says
The database shows a very playable position for White. Across 143,641 games at this exact position, White scores 51.0%, draws 3.2%, and Black scores 45.8%. That tells you this is not some helpless sideline for White; it is a real fight with chances for both sides. The opening has practical value because the position is common enough to matter, but still simple enough to learn from patterns instead of memorising long lines.
The replies you will meet most often
The most played continuation is g5 with 69,337 games, and White scores 50.9% there. The next most common move is d5 with 34,483 games, where White scores 51.3%. You will also see g6 in 14,576 games, with White scoring 50.0%; c5 in 10,644 games, with White scoring 44.8%; Nc6 in 2,921 games, with White scoring 56.8%; and h6 in 2,533 games, with White scoring 56.0%. The practical takeaway is that you should be ready for both the most natural thrusts and the quieter developing moves.
The moves to watch for
Some moves in this position are flagged as inaccuracies. g6 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns, with g5 as the better move. Nc6 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns, with c5 as the better move. h6 is another inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns, with g5 as the better move. If your opponent chooses one of these, stay alert: the move may look natural, but it is not the cleanest way to meet your bishop on h4.
Results across 143,641 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| g5 | 69,337 | 50.9% |
| d5 | 34,483 | 51.3% |
| g6 | 14,576 | 50.0% |
| c5 | 10,644 | 44.8% |
| Nc6 | 2,921 | 56.8% |
| h6 | 2,533 | 56.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation good for White?
This exact position is perfectly playable for White. Stockfish gives -0.05, which means the game is dead level and neither side is better out of the opening. The database results also show White scoring slightly above half in this position.
What is the best move in this position for Black?
The engine’s best move is **g5**. The given continuation **g5 f3 gxh4 fxe4** shows why this move is the most critical one to know when you reach the drill.
Which replies are most common after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bh4?
The most-played continuation is **g5**, followed by **d5**, **g6**, **c5**, **Nc6**, and **h6**. Those are the moves you are most likely to face, so they are the first ones to review in the drill.
Which Black moves are mistakes here?
The position marks **g6**, **Nc6**, and **h6** as inaccuracies. Each one is said to lose material compared with a better move, so you should be ready to punish them with accurate play.
How many games feature the Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation?
Over 143K Lichess games have reached the Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation position. White wins 51.0%, Black wins 45.8%, with 3.2% draws — based on real rated games.