The Torre Attack is a calm system for White against 1...Nf6. White develops the knight to f3 and pins with the bishop on g5. Then White builds with pawns on e3 and c3, puts the knight on d2 and breaks with e4. You learn it against the e6, g6 and d5 set-ups. This is a intermediate opening course for White (ECO A46, A48, D03) with 6 variations and 2 traps, written for players rated around 1300. Each move is explained and then drilled on a board; it is free.
Key ideas of Torre Attack
Pin the f6 knight with the bishop on g5. The pin slows Black's play in the centre.
Build a solid base with pawns on c3, d4 and e3. The knight goes to d2 to support e4.
Push the e-pawn to e4 when your pieces are ready. This break opens lines toward Black's king.
Against an early queen on b6, you can give the b2 pawn. Fast development is worth more than the pawn.
If Black chases the bishop with the g-pawn, drop it back to g3. If Black takes it, the h-file opens for your rook.
Variations you learn
3...c5 4.e3 Qb6: the b2 pawn gambit – 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 Qb6 5. Nbd2 Qxb2 …. Black hits b2 with the queen. White gives the pawn, develops fast and uses the open b- and e-files. Black has to be careful, because the queen is far from home.
3...c5 4.e3 cxd4: aiming at h7 – 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Be7 …. Black trades on d4 and White takes back with the e-pawn. White puts the bishop on d3, the knight on e5 and the rook on e1. White gets space and attacking chances on the kingside.
3...h6 4.Bh4 g5: the h-file opens – 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 g5 5. Bg3 Ne4 …. Black chases the bishop with the h- and g-pawns. White drops it back to g3 and lets Black take it. The h-file opens and White builds a strong centre with c3 and e4.
3...Be7 4.Nbd2: the e4 break – 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 Be7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e4 d5 …. Black breaks the pin and castles. White pushes the e-pawn to e4 and then to e5. The game looks like a French Defence where White has more space on the kingside.
2...g6 3.Bg5: against the King's Indian set-up – 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e4 d6 …. Black fianchettoes the bishop and castles. White takes the centre with e4 and c3 and keeps the bishop active. When Black chases it with the g-pawn, holes appear near Black's king.
2...d5 3.Bg5: the Queen's Pawn Torre – 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5 e6 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Nbd7 …. Black takes the centre with a pawn. White builds a solid chain of pawns, castles and puts a knight on e5. The queen joins from f3 and White plays on the kingside.
Traps
Poisoned b2 pawn: 7...Nd5? – In the b2 gambit Black must hurry to develop. The knight jump to d5 wastes time. White castles, chases the queen with the rook and gets a crushing lead in development.
Pawn storm: 6...Nbd7 and 9...fxe6? – With the bishop on c4, the knight move to d7 takes the retreat square from the f6 knight. White pushes the e-pawn to e6. Taking it opens the diagonal to Black's king, and White wins a piece.
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