4...Qa5+ 5.c3 Nf6 6.d5 Qb6 7.Bc1: the bishop goes home
4...Qa5+ 5.c3 Nf6 6.d5 Qb6 7.Bc1: the bishop goes home is variation 2 of 6 in the Trompowsky Attack course, a intermediate opening course for White (ECO A45). It runs 25 moves and begins 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 c5 4. f3 Qa5+ …. Black checks on a5 and then hits b2 from b6. White calmly drops the bishop back to c1 to guard b2. Then White builds the centre with e4, and the knight comes to c4 with tempo on the queen. 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 – Black develops.
2. Bg5 – The Trompowsky bishop.
2... Ne4 – The knight attacks the bishop.
3. Bf4 – The bishop drops back to f4.
3... c5 – Black hits d4.
4. f3 – White kicks the knight.
4... Qa5+ – Black checks first. Now White has to block with the c-pawn.
5. c3 – White blocks the check. The c3 pawn also supports d4.
5... Nf6 – The knight goes back to f6.
6. d5 – White gains space with the d-pawn.
6... Qb6 – The queen swings over and attacks b2.
7. Bc1 – The bishop goes home to guard b2. It looks odd, but it is the main move.
7... e6 – Black hits the d5 pawn.
8. e4 – White supports d5 and builds the centre.
8... exd5 – Black takes.
The lesson goes on for 9 more moves, each with its explanation.
chessGM