Torre Attack: Classical Defense

Torre Attack: Classical Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code A46, part of the Torre Attack family. It goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... Nf6. After 5 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
• 1... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
• 2. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
• 2... e6 – Black plays the pawn to e6
• 3. Bg5 – White plays the bishop to g5

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 3... c5.

About the Torre Attack

White plays d4, Nf3 and Bg5, pinning the f6 knight. It is a simple system with easy development.

• White plays e3, Bd3, Nbd2, c3 and O-O.
• The plan is the e4 push to open the centre.
• Black often replies ...c5 and ...Qb6 to hit b2.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Torre Attack: Classical Defense course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Indian Defense: Knights Variation (1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3)
• Continues with: Queen's Pawn Game: Torre Attack, Breyer Variation – adds 3... d5 4. e3 c5 5. c3
• Continues with: Torre Attack: Classical Defense, Nimzowitsch Variation – adds 3... h6
• Continues with: Torre Attack: Classical Defense, Petrosian Gambit – adds 3... c5 4. e3 b6 5. d5
• Continues with: Torre Attack: Wagner Gambit – adds 3... c5 4. e4
• Related line: Torre Attack: Classical Defense, Nimzowitsch Variation (1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6)
• Related line: Torre Attack: Classical Defense, Petrosian Gambit (1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 b6 5. d5)
• Related line: Torre Attack: Wagner Gambit (1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e4)
• Related line: Torre Attack: Fianchetto Defense (1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5)
• Related line: Torre Attack: Fianchetto Defense, Euwe Variation (1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 c5)

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