2...Bf5: trade the bishop is variation 2 of 5 in the Stonewall Attack course, a beginner opening course for White (ECO D00). It runs 18 moves and begins 1. d4 d5 2. e3 Bf5 3. Bd3 Bxd3 4. Qxd3 e6 …. Black brings the light bishop out early. White trades it off with Bd3. After the trade the Stonewall push is slow. So White uses a queen check to win the b7 pawn. 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... d5 – Black meets it.
2. e3 – The Stonewall start.
2... Bf5 – Black develops the light bishop before the e-pawn blocks it in.
3. Bd3 – White offers a trade. Black's light bishop is the piece that fights White's setup best.
3... Bxd3 – Black takes. This is the most common answer.
4. Qxd3 – The queen takes back and now looks at b5 and the queenside.
4... e6 – Black opens the way for the dark bishop.
5. Qb5+ – With the light bishops gone, the Stonewall push is slow here. This check hits the b7 pawn.
5... Nd7 – The best block. The knight develops and Black offers the b7 pawn.
6. Qxb7 – White grabs the pawn. Black gets quick development for it, so the queen must not stay too long.
6... Ngf6 – Black develops and gets ready to castle.
7. Nf3 – White develops and prepares to castle.
7... Bd6 – The bishop comes out, and Black is ready to castle.
8. O-O – White's king goes to safety first.
8... O-O – Black castles too.
The lesson goes on for 2 more moves, each with its explanation.
chessGM