Is this the trompowski attack?

I really thought this was the London system but when I analyzed a recent game I played, Fritz 8 says it was the Trompowski. Seems weird. I thought the Bishop had to be on g5 for it to be the Trompowski.

Nope, that's a London System.

That's what I thought too. The only thing I can think of that might explain it is maybe the London system wasn't a thing 20 years ago.....that's about how old Fritz 8 is if I remember right. How old is the London system? I don't remember hearing anything about it back in those days. The closest thing to it that I encountered back then was the Colle opening and that was rare.

Yes, I agree but I think I discovered why Fritz 8 thinks it is the Trompowski attack. Over on the Lichess opening explorer, I saw a rare line in the Trompowski where white actually plays Bf4 after playing Bg5. I'm not talking about the Ne4 lines. I mean playing Bf4 unprovoked....basically playing the London system down a tempo. https://lichess.org/opening/Trompowsky_Attack/d4_Nf6_Bg5_d5_Bf4

This line could also account for why fritz thinks the London is Trompowski. It might not be able to tell the difference between a position where it takes white 2 moves to get Bf4 in and a position where it only takes one move when all the other features of the position are the same: pawn structure, piece placement ect.

yes. in lichess opening explorer if black now plays d5 there is a line where white then plays Bf4. However, It doesn't appear to be based on any master level games, so I guess it isn't a real line. Consequently, this line can't be the reason Fritz is calling a known London position the Trompowski. It must just be a program bug.

Oh also a friend sent me a message that the London was known in MCO 6 decades ago, so I guess Fritz should have know what the London system looks like.

I’m really just curious why you’re using Fritz 8 in 2023

Might be a bug. Have you tried testing the same thing on higher fritz engine?

no....fritz 8 is the only program I have and yes I agree it is probably a bug.

Well obviously there are stronger engines. The main reason I still use it is because I play in the ICCF where engine use is allowed. On the one hand I don't want to be totally without an engine as that would be too much of a handicap. On the other hand I don't want to use a really strong engine either since if I did that there would be a temptation to rely too much on the engine. I prefer that if I win a game that my own thinking combined with opening theory would be just as important as engine analysis. Using a weaker engine kind of forces me focus more on opening theory and my own thinking compared to the situation where a stronger engine is used since if I use Fritz 8 I can be pretty sure my opponents are using stronger engines if they use engines. Also, I find that most of the time Fritz 8 is strong enough to help me figure out questions I have in opening theory or positions I get in my own games.....combined with analysis from books