Chess Openings Lab
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Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre

The Anti-Torre is 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bg4, where Black pins the knight at once before White can play c4 or Bg5. White can hit back with c4 or Ne5, while Black aims to trade on f3 and play in the center.

Moves
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bg4
ECO
D02
Engine
+0.66 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
4,953 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 3.c4 attacks d5 at once; after ...Bxf3 gxf3 White gets the bishop pair and open files.
  • Jump with 3.Ne5 to escape the pin and chase the bishop with f3 or h3 later.
  • 3.Nbd2 keeps the structure intact and recaptures on f3 with the knight if Black trades.
  • Use the two bishops after gxf3 by opening the position with e4.

Black

  • Trade on f3 to damage White's pawn structure and slow down the e4 push.
  • After 3.c4 Bxf3 4.gxf3, take on c4 and push ...e5 to open the center while White's king is uncastled.
  • Against 3.Ne5 drop the bishop to f5 and play ...f6 to kick the knight.
  • Develop with ...e6, ...Nf6 and ...Bb4+ when White plays quietly with Nbd2.

Plans and pawn structure

Black's early pin gives a choice of structures. After 3.c4 Bxf3 4.gxf3 White has the two bishops and doubled f-pawns, and Black hits the center with ...dxc4 and ...e5; the queen trade on d1 leads to a level-looking but tricky endgame. After 3.Ne5 the bishop goes to f5 and Black kicks the knight with ...f6. In the quiet 3.Nbd2 lines both sides develop and the game resembles a Queen's Gambit with Black's bishop traded early.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.66: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.66 3.c4 Bxf3 4.gxf3 dxc4 5.Nc3 e5
  2. +0.64 3.Ne5 Bf5 4.c4 f6 5.Nf3 e6
  3. +0.32 3.Nbd2 Bxf3 4.Nxf3 e6 5.e3 Nf6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

4,953 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.4%.

under 120049.5%
1200–159953.1%
1600–199952.1%
2000 and up56.9%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As White, play 3.c4 or 3.Ne5 to make use of the early bishop move. Do not be scared of doubled f-pawns; the bishop pair compensates. As Black, after 3.c4 be ready to trade on f3 at once and hit the center before White develops.

Questions

What are the moves of the Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre?

The Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre starts 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bg4. Its ECO code is D02.

Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.66 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 4,953 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.4%. A practical try for Black players who like early piece trades, while White gets good chances by hitting back with c4 or Ne5.

What is the main idea of the Queen's Pawn Game: Anti-Torre?

Black pins White's knight early and is ready to trade it to slow down e4. White answers with c4 or Ne5 to show that the early bishop move lets White gain time.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is c4, with Ne5 and Nbd2 close behind. 3.c4 hits d5 at once and accepts doubled f-pawns for the bishop pair.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.