Black Knights' Tango: Difference between revisions

|image = {{Chess diagram|=

|rdpd| pd|bdpd|qdpd|kdpd|bdpd| pd|rd|=pd

| | |pdnd|pd |pd |pdnd|pd |pd|pd|pd|=

| | | |nd| | |nd| | |=

| | | pl| pl| | | | |=

| | | |pl|pl| | | | |=

| pl| pl| | | pl| pl| | pl|=pl

|plrl|plnl| bl| ql|plkl|plbl|plnl|pl|=rl

|birth = [[Friedrich Sämisch]] vs. [[Carlos Torre Repetto]], [[Baden-Baden]] 1925

|AKA = Mexican Defense <br />Two Knights' Tango <br />Kevitz–Trajkovic Defense

The '''Black Knights' Tango''' (also known as the '''Mexican Defense''', '''Two Knights' Tango''' or '''Kevitz–Trajkovic Defense''') is a [[chess opening]] beginning with the moves:

This position can also be reached by [[transposition (chess)|transposition]], e.g.for example 1.d4 Nc6c4&nbsp;Nf6, 1.c4d4 Nf6Nc6, or 1.c4 Nc6.

{{algebraic notation|pos=toclefttoc}}

The opening originated in the 1920s, when it was played by both the [[Mexico|Mexican]] [[International Grandmaster|grandmaster]] [[Carlos Torre Repetto|Carlos Torre]] (hence the name "Mexican Defense")<ref name="SamischTorre">,{{cite web | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1007185 | title=Fridrich Sämisch vs Carlos Torre-Repeto, Baden-Baden 1925 | publisher=Chessgames.com | accessdate=2009-03-06}}</ref> and the [[USA|American]] [[chess master|master]] [[Alexander Kevitz]] (the "Kevitz" in "Kevitz–Trajkovic Defense"). Torre famously used it to defeat then-U.S. Chess Champion [[Frank James Marshall]] in only seven moves.<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1095105 Frank James Marshall vs Carlos Torre-Repetto, Baden-Baden, 1925]</ref> It was later played by the Yugoslav master Mihailo Trajkovic<ref>Palliser, p. 10.</ref><ref>[[Walter Korn]], ''[[Modern Chess Openings]]'' (9th ed. 1957), Pitman, p. 234 (citing a 1952 game by Trajkovic).</ref> and the Soviet grandmaster [[Anatoly Lutikov]].<ref>Walter Korn, ''[[Modern Chess Openings]]'' (12th ed. 1982), David McKay, p. 310. {{ISBN |0-679-13500-6}}.</ref><ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1389777 Czerniak–Lutikov, IBM B 1968]. Chessgames.com. Retrieved on 2009-03-06.</ref><ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1389807 Trapl–Lutikov, Warsaw Armies Championship 1969]. Chessgames.com. Retrieved on 2009-03-06.</ref><ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1389799 Uhlmann–Lutikov, Sarajevo 1969]. Chessgames.com. Retrieved on 2009-03-06.</ref>

After decades of obscurity, the opening was revitalized by the [[International Master]] [[Georgi Orlov (chess player)|Georgi Orlov]], who published a booklet and a book about it in 1992 and 1998, respectively. Orlov rechristened the opening the "Black Knights' Tango".<ref>He explained, "this no-name opening has languished, rarely getting even an honorable mention. I hope to change that by first highlighting the defense with a catchy name. Thus The Black Knights Tango!" Orlov 1992, p. 2. His 1998 book added the apostrophe after "Knights".</ref>

Although fairly uncommon, the "Tango" has a sounder positional basis than most other offbeat openings: Black {{chessgloss|development|develops}} quickly, has a flexible [[pawn structure]], and is prepared to strike back in the center with 3...e5, or with ...e6 and ...d5. The opening has some distinct variations but it is highly [[transposition (chess)|transpositional]], and may transpose to the [[King's Indian Defence|King's Indian Defense]], [[Nimzo-Indian Defence|Nimzo–Indian Defense]], [[Bogo-Indian Defence|Bogo–Indian Defense]], [[Chigorin Defense]], [[Queen's Gambit Declined#Ragozin Variation|Ragozin System]], [[Catalan Opening]], and [[English Opening]].

The most common move, preventing 3...e5.<ref name="Palliserp.82">Palliser, p. 82.</ref> Black usually responds with 3...e6, although 3...d6, intending a kind of [[Old Indian Defense]], is also possible.<ref name="Palliserp.82"/><ref>Orlov 1998, pp. 53–54.</ref> After 3...e6, White can play 4.Nc3 Bb4 (transposing to the Nimzo–IndianNimzo-Indian Defense);<ref>Palliser, p. 92.</ref><ref>Orlov 1998, p. 80.</ref> 4.a3, when Black can either play 4...d5 (reaching a kind of Queen's Gambit Declined or Ragozin System),<ref>Orlov 1998, p. 118.</ref> or 4...d6 preparing 5...e5 or even 5...g6 ("championed by Bologan", according to Palliser), reaching a sort of King's Indian Defense;<ref>Palliser, p. 176.</ref><ref>Orlov 1998, pp. 115–18.</ref> or 4.g3, when Black can transpose to the Catalan Opening with 4...d5, recommended by Palliser<ref name="Palliserp.159">Palliser, p. 159.</ref><ref>Orlov 1998, pp. 59–60.</ref> or 4...Bb4+, preferred by Orlov, which transposes to a Nimzo–IndianNimzo-Indian after 5.Nc3, or to a Bogo–IndianBogo-Indian Defense after 5.Bd2 or 5.Nbd2.<ref name="Palliserp.159"/><ref>Orlov 1998, pp. 60–61, 80.</ref>

This is White's second -most popular move.<ref>Orlov 1998, p. 26.</ref> After the thematic 3...e5, one possibility for White is 4.Nf3, transposing to an English Opening.<ref name="Palliserp.76">Palliser, p. 76.</ref> Palliser recommends 4...e4[[Chess_punctuation#.21.3F:_Interesting_move{{chesspunc|!?]]}} in response, while Orlov prefers 4...exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4.<ref name="Palliserp.76"/><ref>Orlov 1998, p. 27.</ref> Instead, the main line is 4.d5 Ne7.<ref>Orlov 1998, p. 28.</ref> Now the game may continue in "Tango" fashion, for example with 5.Nf3 Ng6, or transpose to the King's Indian Defense with, for example, 5.Nf3 d6 6.e4 (6.Bg5!?) g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.0-0 0-0, reaching the main line of the King's Indian by transposition.<ref>Orlov 1998, pp. 34–35.</ref>

Another interesting but relatively unexplored idea is 3...e6, allowing White to play 4.e4 (other moves such as 4.d5, 4.Bg5, 4.a3, 4.f3, and 4.Nf3 are also possible), whereupon Black follows up with 4...d5. From that position, the main possibilities are 5.e5 (the main line), 5.exd5, 5.cxd5, and 5.Bg5. These possibilities can also be reached via transposition from the Flohr–MikenasMikenas–Carls Variation of the English Opening (1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4), although if Black wishes to play this way, the optimal move order is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nc6.

| rd| | bd| | kd| |nd| |=rd

| pd| pd| pd|pl|plpd| | pd| pd|=pd

| |bd | | | |pl| |qdnd|=

| | | |blpl|pl| |nl|nd| |=

|pl|pl| |blbd| | | |pl|= |qd

|rl|nl | |ql|kl| |bl| |rlnl|=nd|

| rd| | bd| | | kd| | |=rd

| pd| pd| pd|pl|plpd| | pd| pd|=pd

| | | | | |nd | |qd|=

| | | |pl|pl| | |nl|nd| |=

|pl|pl | |nl| | | |plnd| |=qd

|rl | | |ql|kl|bl | |rlnl|=nd|

* Georgi Orlov, ''Black Knights' Tango'', International Chess Enterprises, 1992. {{ISBN |1-879479-03-6}}.

* Georgi Orlov, ''The Black Knights' Tango: Outwit Your Opponents from Move 2!'', Batsford, 1998. {{ISBN |0-7134-8349-0}}.

* [[Richard Palliser]], ''Tango! A Dynamic Answer to 1 d4'', Everyman Chess, 2005. {{ISBN |1-85744-388-8}}.