Why isn't the "Torre Attack" chess opening more popular for the player with the white pieces?

Question

To me it's a very solid and logical opening, but I don't see it played very much compared to the Queen's gambit and I was wondering if there was a reason why (for instance weaknesses of it that I wasn't aware of or it doesn't allow white enough of an opening advantage).

Answer 1

Good answer from Capt. Kirk already, I'm just adding my opinion in case you might like it.

The opening is all about occupying the centre and developing your pieces. If white is content to move one pawn into the centre and then develop all of his pieces, he probably has a solid position. On the other hand, he has made no bid for the initiative.

The Queen's gambit: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 challenges black's setup immediately and although the 2 pawn moves take time, it is currently white's best bet to obtain a (small) initiative. In the event of an exchange white also has play on the halfopen c-file.

In the Torre white makes no attempt to occupy the centre with c4. (If he does decide after all it's just the Queen's gambit again.) The things that black might try are:

1) Develop naturally and support the centre with c3 and e3. In this case the play is calm indeed.

2) Inflict doubled pawns on black with Bxf6. exf6 is then the normal reply, gxf6 looks interesting. White has some compensation because black king's wing becomes less mobile and can be attacked, but you should wonder if it is really worth it to give up the pair of bishops for this.

3) Maybe black actually knows the opening, in that case he might play ...Ne4. I honestly don't know if this is the best reply, but the game becomes messy indeed. If the bishop ends up on g3 black may take it, again getting the bishop. The difference is black usually has to losen his kingside to get the bishop there.

My personal conclusion is this:

I do not care for option 1 or 2. I like to put the pressure on the centre and I like to keep the bishops pair if possible. These are perfectly valid positional considerations that could throw others off as well.

I don't even know if I like option 3. It's too complicated to understand it by looking at a few games. Usually black will not even play Ne4, making it a moot point. In any case it's highly tactical and not solid at all.

So..if you are looking for a solid opening you still need to watch out for this dangerous reply by black. Not everyone's cup of tea.

Hope that helps.

Day

Answer 2

Because it is a weenie Queen pawn opening.:)

Oh, you want a serious response?  Kirk already gave you one.

Answer 3

The opening is rarely met in modern top-flight play, and statistical analysis shows that it is not particularly advantageous for White.

Most people don't play it because there is not much of an advantage for white.  

Answer 4

You answered most of your question already.

Objectively,  the Torre Attack is a very solid and logical opening.

You don't see it played very much compared to the Queen's Gambit

because it doesn't allow white enough of an opening advantage.

The rest of why it is not as popular is that it doesn't get the results; i.e.

white wins more often with Queen's Gambit compared to the Torre Attack.

Sample statistics and sample games with an intereactive board

are at the chessgames.com links that I provide as two of my sources: