Mexican defense
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The basic position of the Mexican defense after 2.… Nb8 – c6
The Mexican Defense or Kevitz-Trajkovic Defense (also known as Tango or Black Knights' Tango in English-language chess literature ) is an opening to the game of chess . It is one of the closed games and is classified in the ECO codes under the key A50.
The Mexican defense is initiated with the following moves:
- 1. d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2. c2-c4 Nb8-c6
history
The opening has its origins in the 1920s, when it was played by both the Mexican Grandmaster Carlos Torre (hence the name Mexican Defense) and the American Master Alexander Kevitz (hence the Kevitz-Trajkovic Defense). After disappearing from tournament practice for decades, defense was revived by International Master Georgi Orlov , who wrote a successful book on defense and named it Black Knight's Tango . After that, the opening was played by many strong grandmasters, including Joel Benjamin , Larry Christiansen and Alex Yermolinsky . The latter even played this opening against Garry Kasparov at the Chess Olympiad in Yerevan in 1996, but lost after 51 moves.
Opening ideas
Black develops quickly, has a flexible pawn structure and is ready to hit back in the center with 3.… e7 – e5, e7 – e6 or d7 – d5. The opening has some independent variants, but often goes through diverter in a King's Indian Defense , Nimzoindische defense , Bogoindischen defense , Chigorin Defense , English Opening or Ragosin variant over.
Possible sequels
3. Ng1-f3
Perhaps the most frequently played continuation as it prevents 3.… e7 – e5. Black therefore usually answers 3.… e7 – e6. This can be followed by 4. Nb1 – c3 Bf8 – b4, which leads to a Nimzo-Indian defense ; 4. a2 – a3, (which leads to a Rejected Queen's Gambit after 4.… d7 – d5 , or) 4.… d7 – d6 to prepare 5.… e7 – e5; the last possibility is 4. g2 – g3, which leads to a Nimzo-Indian defense after 4.… Bf8 – b4 + 5. Nb1 – c3 or to a Bogo- Indian defense after 5. Bc1 – d2 or 5. Nb1 – d2 .
3. Sb1-c3
This move is also played a lot. After the theoretical 3.… e7 – e5, White usually answers with 4. d4 – d5 (4. Ng1 – f3 leads to Sicilian approaching ) Nc6 – e7. Furthermore, Black can continue in “Tango style” with 5.… Ne7 – g6 or go over to the King's Indian defense with d7 – d6 and g7 – g6 . 5. h2 – h4 goes against both “styles”.
3. d4 – d5
This ambitious move is playable, but rarely seen. Black usually answers this with 3.… Nc6 – e5. After 4. e2 – e4 (invites you to 4.… Nf6xe4 ?? 5. Qd1 – d4! And White wins a knight) Black defeated Samisch - Torre, Baden-Baden 1925, with 4.… Ne5 – g6 5 .f2 – f4 e7 – e5 back in the center.
Lots
- Samisch - Torre, Baden-Baden 1925, for replay (Java applet)
literature
- Georgi Orlov: The Black Knights' Tango . Batsford, 1998, ISBN 1-879479-03-6 .
- Richard Palliser: Tango! a Complete Defense to 1. d4 . Everyman Chess, 2005, ISBN 1-85744-388-8 .
Web links
- Joel Benjamin on The Black Knights Tango ( Memento from February 22, 2012 in the Internet Archive )