Playing Against the Trompowsky Attack: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 g6 3.Nc3

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 g6 3.Nc3, the position is remarkably balanced. Stockfish evaluates it at +0.09, a tiny number that basically says neither side has an edge yet. White's bishop on g5 pins your knight, but your g6 pawn has already taken the sting out of many Bg5 threats — you're ready to fianchetto and challenge the centre. Your goal here is simple: don't give White anything for free. The statistics show that Black scores 46.0% overall from this position, which is healthy for a second-player result. Pick the right move and you'll equalise with no trouble at all.

The engine's top recommendation is 3...d5. This move stakes a claim in the centre, fights for space, and immediately makes White's bishop on g5 think twice — it can be awkwardly placed if Black later plays ...h6 or uses the d5 square. The sample continuation runs 3...d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3, leading to a solid, playable middlegame where neither side has a forced win. Statistics back this up strongly: in 6,703 games with 3...d5, White scores only 45.0% — meaning Black actually scores better than White from this line. That's rare for a second-player opening, and it tells you d5 is the move that puts the pressure back on White.

By far the most common move in the database is 3...Bg7, played a staggering 271,741 times. If you play this you're in good company — it's the natural fianchetto. However, the results are less exciting: White scores 50.2% from here, which is basically the standard first-move advantage. Unlike 3...d5, where Black slightly outperforms expectations, 3...Bg7 hands the initiative right back to White. The engine still evaluates it as roughly equal, but the practical statistics suggest d5 gives you better chances. If you prefer the fianchetto setup, you can still play it — just be aware that d5 is the more challenging reply.

The database and engine both flag three replies as clear inaccuracies. Each one drifts from the ideal centre fight and gives White a meaningful plus: - 3...d6 (4,981 games, White scores 49.4%): Loses about 0.6 pawns. It's too passive — you allow White to control the centre without a fight. The engine says d5 was better. - 3...e6 (1,417 games, White scores 57.8%): This is the worst offender, losing about 0.9 pawns. Blocking your own bishop on c8 and weakening the d6 square is not worth it. White scores an excellent 57.8% here, so avoid this move entirely. - 3...c6 (641 games, White scores 44.1%): Despite the low White win percentage (which may be a small sample), the engine says it loses about 0.6 pawns. It's slow and doesn't challenge White's centre. Stick to d5 and you'll never need to worry about any of these.

You might be tempted by 3...h6, asking White what the bishop intends. It's played 2,764 times, and White scores 50.8% — roughly standard. The engine doesn't label it a mistake, but it's not a top recommendation either. The issue is that 3...h6 doesn't fight for the centre. White can simply retreat the bishop to h4 or even exchange on f6. While it's not a blunder, it's a move that lets White keep the reins. If you want to play the principled reply and punish the Trompowsky, 3...d5 is the path.