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

Black Knights Tango
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqkb1r/pppppppp/2n2n2/8/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w
Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6

Black Knights Tango

2...Nc6

With the work by Georgi Orlov this previously obscure opening has been given new life. Black keeps a flexible central pawn options. 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

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+	=

References

• 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.