Hodgson Attack

The Hodgson Attack (also called the Pseudo-Trompowsky, Levitsky Attack after Stepan Levitsky, Queen's Bishop Attack, and Bishop Attack,) is a chess opening that begins with the moves:

1. d4 d5
2. Bg5
Hodgson Attack
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
d5 black pawn
g5 white bishop
d4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.d4 d5 2.Bg5
ECOD00
Named afterJulian Hodgson
ParentQueen's Pawn Game
Synonym(s)Pseudo-Trompowsky
Levitsky Attack
Queen's Bishop Attack
Bishop Attack

Strategically, the bishop on g5 exerts an annoying influence where it pins Black's e-pawn and is ready to meet 2...Nf6 with 3.Bxf6, giving up the bishop pair in exchange for saddling Black with doubled pawns. White's aim is to provoke weaknesses in the kingside position while it engages the bishop.[1]

Modern Chess Openings considers the line a variation of the Trompowsky Attack, although that term is usually reserved for the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5. The Encyclopedia of Chess Openings covers 2.Bg5 in chapter D00.[2]

Development

Although the opening was tested by Preston Ware in the 1880s, the namesake of the opening is the English grandmaster Julian Hodgson who studied and played the opening extensively, finding several new ideas and gaining an understanding of the arising positions that yielded him successful results with the line. The Hodgson Attack was a very rare line until the 1980s, when several players including Michael Adams and Tony Miles tried the opening, but the opening remains a sideline compared to the Queen's Gambit (2.c4).[1]

Black responses

Black has several options, for instance falling in with White's idea after 2...Nf6 3.Bxf6 transposes into a variation of the Trompowsky Attack that is playable. Moves like 2...c5, 2...g6, 2...c6 and even chasing the bishop with 2...f6 are also possible. An unusual response is 2...Bg4 (the Welling Variation). A solid line is to chase the bishop with 2...h6 3.Bh4 c6, where Black will play 4...Qb6 on the next move, attacking the b2-pawn and thus taking advantage of a drawback in White's system, namely the bishop's absence from defending the queenside.[1]

References

  1. Rizzitano, James (2005). How to Beat 1 d4. Gambit. pp. 103–111. ISBN 1-904600-33-6.
  2. "Chess Opening Explorer (D00 Levitsky attack (Queen's bishop attack))". 365chess.com. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
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