Torre Attack
Initial Moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5
Strategic Summary & Main Idea
The Torre Attack brings the c1 bishop to g5 on move three, pinning the f6 knight, and completes development with e3, Nbd2 and c3 against almost any defence. The measurement places the set-up near equality: after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 the position measures +0.08, against +0.13 for the London System in the same order. The gap widens against an early ...d5: after 1...d5 2.Nf3 Nf6, the Torre measures +0.02 and the London +0.19, because a knight on e4 hits the g5 bishop with tempo. And the poisoned b2 pawn is no trap: taking it measures +0.17, and what loses is the greed that follows, which reaches +2.42.
The pawn structure this opening produces
The Torre builds the same pawn structure as the London and the Colle — d4, e3 and c3 — and changes only the dark-squared bishop's destination. On g5 the bishop pins the f6 knight and presses d8, and White is ready to trade it for the knight and double the control of e4 with Nbd2 and Bd3. The cost is that the bishop on g5 can be attacked: by ...h6, which asks whether White trades or retreats, and by ...Ne4, which only works when Black's pawn is on d5 supporting the knight. That second option is what separates the defences. Against ...e6 and ...c5, the bishop stands well on g5 and White can push e4 with c3 and Nbd2 ready. Against ...g6, the bishop has no pinned knight to press, and the set-up becomes a fianchetto position without tension. Against ...d5, the knight on e4 is supported and the bishop must choose between h4, f4 and e3, losing a tempo. Black's typical break is ...c5 against d4; White's is e4 against d5 or e6, supported by the d2 knight.
Typical Plans for White
- Set up Bg5, e3, Nbd2, c3 and Bd3 and prepare e4 against ...e6 and ...c5
- Against ...d5, plant the knight on e5 after castling: the position measures +0.32 with 8.Ne5
- Against ...Qb6, give up b2 with 5.Nbd2: the capture measures +0.17 for White
- Do not defend b2 with 5.b3: the passive move measures −0.27
- Against 1...d5, prefer the London with 3.Bf4, which avoids the ...Ne4 attack on the bishop
Typical Plans for Black
- Against 3.Bg5, play ...c5 and ...Qb6 and hit b2 before White completes c3
- With the pawn on d5, attack the bishop with ...Ne4 and gain time on it
- Question the bishop with ...h6 and accept the bishop pair after Bxf6
- After taking on b2, retreat the queen to a3 or play ...d5: do not insist with ...Qc3
- Against Black's fianchetto set-up, keep the f6 knight free for ...Ne4 and ...d5
Main Variations of the Torre Attack
| Variation | Move Sequence | Evaluation | Style / Characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3...c5 4.e3 h6 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 h6 5.Bh4 cxd4 6.exd4 Be7 |
+0.11 | The bishop retreats to h4 and White recaptures with the e-pawn |
| 3...h6 4.Bxf6 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.e4 d6 6.Nc3 g6 |
−0.06 | White gives up the bishop pair for e4; equality |
| Poisoned pawn (6...Qa3) | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 Qb6 5.Nbd2 Qxb2 6.Bd3 Qa3 |
+0.22 | The queen takes b2 and gets out of danger; White has development for the pawn |
| 3...d5 with 8.Ne5 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 d5 4.e3 Be7 5.Nbd2 O-O 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 Nbd7 8.Ne5 |
+0.32 | The knight on e5 gives the set-up its meaning; the highest evaluation among the main lines |
| Against the fianchetto (2...g6) | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5 Bg7 4.Nbd2 O-O 5.e4 d6 6.c3 |
+0.04 | With no pinned knight to press, the g5 bishop loses its target |
| 1...d5 with 3.Bg5 Ne4 | 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 Ne4 4.Bh4 c5 5.e3 |
−0.15 | The knight hits the bishop with pawn support; the lowest evaluation in the entry |
| 3...h6 4.Bh4 g5 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 h6 4.Bh4 g5 5.Bg3 Ne4 6.Nbd2 Nxg3 7.hxg3 |
+0.24 | Black gains the bishop pair and opens the h-file for White's rook |
Evaluations measured by us with Stockfish 19, depth 22, on 15/09/2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Torre Attack better than the London System?
Not by the measurement. Against 2...e6, the Torre measures +0.08 and the London +0.13. Against 1...d5 2.Nf3 Nf6, the gap widens: +0.02 for the Torre and +0.19 for the London, because the bishop on g5 can be hit by ...Ne4 with the knight supported by the d5 pawn. The Torre is a matter of style against ...e6 and ...g6.
Is taking the b2 pawn in the Torre a mistake?
No. After 3...c5 4.e3 Qb6 5.Nbd2 Qxb2 6.Bd3, the position measures +0.17, and the exits 6...Qa3 (+0.22) and 6...d5 (+0.13) are safe. The mistake is insisting: 6...Qc3 7.O-O cxd4 measures +2.42, because the queen is out of the defence and 8.Bxf6 opens the kingside.
What is White's typical plan in the Torre?
Against ...d5 and ...e6, complete e3, Nbd2, Bd3, c3 and castling and plant the knight on e5, which measures +0.32 after 8.Ne5. Against ...c5, prepare e4 with the d2 knight and the d3 bishop. It is a manoeuvring set-up with a small edge, not a refutation of any defence.
Guides on this opening
Common Mistakes & Where Most Amateurs Go Wrong
- 01 Insisting on the poisoned pawn with 6...Qc3? 7.O-O cxd4?. The queen is far from the defence and 8.Bxf6 opens the kingside before Black catches up in development: +2.42, against +0.22 for the 6...Qa3 retreat. The line:
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 Qb6 5.Nbd2 Qxb2 6.Bd3 Qc3 7.O-O cxd4+2.42 - 02 Defending b2 with 5.b3? against 4...Qb6. The move weakens c3 and the a1-h8 diagonal, and 5...cxd4 opens the game with Black better developed: −0.27, against +0.17 for giving up the pawn with 5.Nbd2. The line:
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 Qb6 5.b3−0.27
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