Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...Nc6

Black Knights' Tango
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black knightd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black knightg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 white pawnd4 white pawne4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6

Black Knights' Tango

edit

2...Nc6

edit

Black begins the game by developing both knights, keeping their central pawn options flexible. With the work of Georgi Orlov, this previously obscure opening has been given new life. White has a number of sensible replies, but the most common is 3. Nf3 to discourage the e5 break.

Sometimes also called the Mexican Defense or Kevitz-Trajkovich Defense. ECO listing is A50.

Theory table

edit

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6

3 4 5 6
Nf3
e6
a3
d6
Nc3
g6
e4
Bg7
+/=
Nc3
e5
d5
Ne7
e4
Ng6
Be3
Bb4
d5
Ne5
e4
e6
Qd4
Bb4+
Bd2
Bxd2+
=

When contributing to this Wikibook, please follow the Conventions for organization.

References

edit
  • Georgi Orlov (1992), Black Knights' Tango, Batsford, ISBN 1879479036
  • Georgi Orlov (1998),The Black Knights' Tango: Outwit Your Opponents from Move 2!, Batsford, ISBN 0713483490
  • Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.