Beat The ... Pseudo-Trompowsky

IN this series I am looking at the statistically best way to play against popular opening lines.

The numbers are drawn from the 2021 edition of ChessBase's Mega database, ignoring, where possible, those results that include very few games and so are statistically insignificant.

The Pseudo-Trompowsky: 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5!? is often thought of as a modern idea but dates back to at least 1855.

Black's most-popular response, 2...h6, scores 46%, but best, at least statistically, is 2...f6, which scores 50%.

Position after 2...f6

White almost always retreats the dark-square bishop to h4 or f4.

A) 3.Bh4 (434 games)

After 3...c5!? the line splits.

A1 4.e3 Nh6 scores 75% for Black, albeit from a small sample.

A2 4.dxc5 e5, after which the line splits again.

A2.1 5.e4 d4 scores 77% for Black, albeit from a small sample.

A2.2 5.e3 Bxc5 scores 50% for Black, albeit from a small sample.

B) 3.Bf4 (357 games)

After 3...c5!? the line splits.

B1 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nf3 g5!? 6.Bg3 h5 scores 86% for Black, albeit from a small sample.

B2 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 scores 90% for Black, albeit from a small sample.

B3 4.Bxb8!? Rxb8 scores 50% for Black, albeit from a small sample.