Tromp or Torre?

The Trompowsky Opening 2...e6 [A45] by IM Richard Palliser

A solid defence to 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 is 2...e6 3 e4 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6, which is especially popular with Nimzo-Indian players. I've never been a huge fan of 5 Nf3 (which is [A46] as it can also arise from a Torre Attack after 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 Bg5 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 e4), if only because it obstructs the f-pawn, but after 5...d5 (5...d6 6 Nc3 Nd7! is a better approach) 6 e5 Qd8 7 Bd3 c5 8 c3 Nc6 9 Qd2 White enjoys a reasonable version of the Advance French:

Diagram after 9 Qd2

White is missing his dark-squared bishop, but can still fight for the advantage, either by securing d4 or going 9...Nc6 10 dxc5! Bxc5 11 0-0, hoping to post a knight on that square, as he does in Zherebukh-Alsina Leal.

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