Trompowsky: 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 is variation 3 of 5 in the Beating 1.d4 Sidelines course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO A45). It runs 24 moves and begins 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 c5 4. f3 Qa5+ …. Black kicks the bishop with ...Ne4 and then hits d4 and b2. After the queen trade on b6 Black gets a half-open a-file and an easy game in the endgame-like middlegame. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. d4 – White takes the centre.
1... Nf6 – Flexible development that stops e4.
2. Bg5 – The Trompowsky: White threatens Bxf6 to damage Black's pawns before Black can play ...e6.
2... Ne4 – The knight sidesteps the threat with tempo on the g5 bishop and eyes c3, d2 and g3.
3. Bf4 – The bishop retreats to a good diagonal and keeps an eye on c7.
3... c5 – Black hits d4 at once while the c1 bishop is no longer guarding b2.
4. f3 – White kicks the strong knight from e4.
4... Qa5+ – An important check: it stops White from playing c3 and Nd2 comfortably and keeps the knight from being trapped.
5. c3 – Blocks the check; Nc3 would allow ...Nxc3.
5... Nf6 – The knight retreats to its best square now that the check has done its job.
6. Nd2 – White develops and prepares Nb3 to kick the queen.
6... cxd4 – Black opens the c-file before White can keep the centre with Nb3.
7. Nb3 – Attacks the queen and prepares to recapture on d4.
7... Qb6 – The queen keeps hitting d4 and b2 from a safe square.
8. Qxd4 – White regains the pawn and offers a trade of queens.
8... Nc6 – Black develops with tempo on the white queen and is happy to trade.
The lesson goes on for 8 more moves, each with its explanation.
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