The Provocative Tango Chess Opening: Tactics and Strategy

Name: The Provocative Tango Chess Opening: Tactics and Strategy
Rating: 4.8 (93 reviews)

Learn The Provocative Black Knights' Tango: Provocative Strategies to Win Tactically vs. both 1.e4 and 1.d4 Openings

Created byTryfon Gavriel

Last updated 8/2024

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Nc6 as a weakness provocation tool in the Opening
How to provoke weaknesses in general and exploit them
Understanding the importance of pawn structures
Understanding strategic bishop exchanges to amplify weaknesses on a certain colour complex
Grandmaster game examples of the opening theory in action and how it relates to middlegames and endgames
The Mexican defence to 1.d4 - which runs often 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6
Strategies for creating great Kingside attacks based on earlier weakness provocation
The Nimzovich defence to 1.e4 with an aggressive dark square strategy
For the super-lazy you can "Reverse Tango" and use 1. Nc3 with White with many of the ideas in reverse!

Course content

10 sections • 84 lectures • 10h 47m total length

Introduction to Tango dark square weakness provocation philosophy2:21
Introduction to the Tango or Nimzovich defence. This small lecture presents one of the basic ideas which is to provoke dark square weaknesses. Pawns do not go backwards in chess. The "Tango" as I like to call it is a very provocative opening trying to encourage the opponent's pawns forward.
Not in Scope: 1.d4 Nc64:38

1.e4 Nc6 - The Nimzovich defence - 2nd move alternatives8:59
1.e4 Nc6 Brief overview of 2nd move alternatives for White
1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5 ?! - Colorado Gambit if feeling crazy!8:13
Colorado Gambit Queen Sacrifice Game example by Douglas Root6:28
Explore the Colorado gambit through a queen sacrifice game example by Douglas Root for advanced tactics.
Colorado Gambit Game example - IM Jeremy Silman vs IM Douglas Root10:04

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bb5 g6 - Smyslov/ Barnes Defence11:39
Explore the Smyslov/Barnes defense against 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bb5 g6, focusing on transpositions, bishop activity, and castling for dynamic black play.
Smyslov playing black vs early c3 against Mikhail Tal with g6 system9:35
Smyslov playing black vs early c3 and Bg5 against Beliavsky8:26
Smyslov vs early d4 against Garry Kasparov8:20
Other interesting options to explore instead of Smyslov defence13:27

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.Nf3 - Scotch Game Introduction2:14
Nxd4 Bb4+ Bd2?!4:46
Tony Miles example game with Bb4+8:27
Nxd4 Bb4+ c3 Bc5 Be37:40
GM Ivan Sokolov example game after Bc5 Be38:55
Nxd4 Bb4+ c3 Bc5 Nxc69:10
The lecture analyzes the Nxd4 Bb4+ c3 Bc5 Nxc6 line and its alternatives, showing how double pawns and central pressure give Black a clear counterplay and a favorable plan.
Nxd4 Bb4+ c3 Bc5 Bc48:56
This lecture analyzes a provocative e4 scotch position, highlighting the desex move to slow black's setup, activate the bishop, and exploit knight g7, queen h5, and bishop g4 ideas.
Nxd4 Bb4+ c3 Bc5 Nb310:36
Scotch Gambit with 4.Bc44:15
Explore the scotch gambit against 4.bc4, using a proven defensive plan to accelerate development, maintain the light-square bishop imbalance, and aim for a practical, safe edge in the position.
A scary Scotch Gambit example with GM Areschchenko12:44
Göring Gambit with 4.c36:46
Göring Gambit with 4.c3 Example game Miles vs Nunn6:24
Explore the Göring Gambit with 4.c3 through the Miles vs Nunn game, illustrating how black pins, pressures d4, and combines pieces to win with rook and bishop activity.
Scotch to Ruy Lopez transposition with Bb55:02

1.e4 Nc6 d4 e5 Introduction4:22
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.c37:39
Explore the provocative tango opening: 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.c3, analyzing replies like bishop g5 and d5. Black gains active pieces with bishop c5, offering compensation after exchanges.
IM Verlinsky (first Soviet GM!) Game example with 3.c3 by transposition4:58
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.dxe511:45
Illustrative game GM Tony Miles vs 3.dxe56:14
Illustrative GM Joel Benjamin vs 3.dxe510:03
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 - introduction9:18
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.c410:55
Grandmaster Matthew Sadler 4.c4 game example6:41
[Event "Bundesliga 9798"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1998.04.26"]
[Round "15.2"]
[White "Enders, Peter"]
[Black "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1997.10.18"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Duisburg"]
[BlackTeam "Solingen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. d5 Nce7 4. c4 Ng6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nge2 a5 7. Be3 d6 8. a3
Bc5 9. Bxc5 dxc5 10. g3 Nh6 11. Bg2 O-O 12. O-O f5 13. Rb1 f4 14. f3 Nf7 15.
Qc1 Ng5 16. b3 h5 17. Rf2 Qe7 18. Qb2 Ra6 19. gxf4 exf4 20. Qd2 Ne5 21. Kh1 h4
22. Ng1 h3 23. Bf1 Rg6 24. Rd1 b6 25. Nb5 Ng4 26. fxg4 Qxe4+ 27. Nf3 Bxg4 28.
Be2 Bxf3+ 29. Bxf3 Nxf3 30. Qe2 Qxe2 31. Rxe2 Nd4 32. Nxd4 cxd4 33. Rxd4 f3 34.
Rf2 Re8 35. Rd1 Re3 36. Rdf1 Rf6 37. Rb1 Rg6 38. Rbf1 Rf6 39. Rb1 Rf4 40. Kg1
Rg4+ 0-1
Grandmaster Nigel Short game example 4.c4 via transposition6:46
[Event "Daressalam op"]
[Site "Daressalam"]
[Date "2013.06.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "L'Ami, Alina"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2345"]
[BlackElo "2682"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2013.06.14"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "TAN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nc6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 Nce7 4. e4 Ng6 5. g3 Bc5 6. Nc3 a5 7. h4 h6 8. h5 Nf8
9. f4 d6 10. f5 Nf6 11. Bd3 c6 12. Qe2 a4 13. a3 N8d7 14. g4 Qb6 15. Nh3 Bd4
16. g5 hxg5 17. Nxg5 Nc5 18. Bc2 Bd7 19. Rb1 cxd5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. exd5 Nb3
22. Bxb3 Qxb3 23. Rh3 Qb6 24. Qg4 O-O-O 25. Nxf7 Rhf8 26. Qg6 Bxf5 27. Qxf5+
Rd7 28. h6 gxh6 29. Rxh6 Rfxf7 30. Rh8+ Kc7 31. Qe6 Bc3+ 32. bxc3 Qg1+ 0-1
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.Nf3 (or Nc3 transpositions)13:30
GM Benjamin example game with 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.Nf38:13
Spotlights a 2000 U.S. championship game between Christiansen and Benjamin, highlighting aggressive white play with h5 and g5, and black’s counterplay through desex ideas, queen maneuvers, and a5 blockading strategy.
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.Bd313:34
Grandmaster Ian Rogers example game with 4.Bd311:19
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.Bg515:09
Explore the provocative bishop g5 idea, provoking light-squared weaknesses, and learn tempo-driven kingside attack plans, strategic bishop exchanges, and c5 breakthroughs that sharpen the position.
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.f4?!13:42
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.Be311:05
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Ne7 4.Be3
Grandmaster Tony Miles 4.Be3 example game6:51
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.d6?!13:40
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.g36:40
Grandmaster Karpatchev 4.g3 game example8:01
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.h46:02
Explore the provocative tango opening, using bishop g5 to fix the center and unleash tactical play, with rooks becoming active and a winning bishop sacrifice leading to queen a1 checkmate.
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.f36:49
Explore the provocative tango chess opening by triggering strategic bishop exchanges to balance the bishop and exploit central weaknesses for a dynamic position.
1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.Ne29:43
An analysis of the 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7 4.Ne2 line, exploring a disruptive h5, light-square strategy, and opposing e5 pressure with sharp counterplay and king safety concerns.

Introduction to Tango to 1.d43:19
Discover how tango inspired provocation shapes the opening against d4, why 96 is often avoided, and how to use d5 and c4 strategically, with an example game.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4. Nc310:21
International Master and evangelist of system example - 4.Nc310:33
Explore the Mexican defense as the Black Knights Tango against a top US grandmaster, highlighting positional ideas and tactics.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4. a38:11
Grandmaster Gelashvili vs 4.a3 example game6:37
International Master Orlov vs 4.a3 example game7:44
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4. g34:48
Explore a Catalan-style transition with a dance grand strategy, trading on dark and light squares, and using a positional pawn sack at five to equalize against opposite-colored bishops.
GM Benjamin 4.g3 example game6:40
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4. Bg55:29
Grandmaster Zvjaginsev example game in 4.Bg5 positions discussed6:26
Analyze a key 4.Bg5 position from Grandmaster Zvjaginsev’s example game, highlighting aggressive g5 play and d5 breaks, resulting in structural damage and a sharp kingside attack that secures Black's advantage.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4. e35:19
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4. d57:15

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 introduction5:12
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5. e47:39
GM Joel Benjamin example game with 5.e47:21
Watch grandmaster Joel Benjamin play as black in a provocative tango opening, showing c5 breaks, bishop activity, and queen pressure that demonstrate tactic-rich middle-game ideas.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5. Nf38:07
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.h49:03
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5. g35:02
GM Christiansen Illustrative game with 5.g310:47
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5. Bg55:40
Master the provocative tango opening, focusing on the bishop on g5, bishop trades, and strategic c5 pushes to gain a small edge and press the rooks against the king.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5. e34:13
Analyze the 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e3 variation and its passive tendencies. Emphasize King's Indian style counterplay with g6 and dynamic plans against White's e3 setup.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5. a34:35

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 introduction3:15
Explore a slightly different move order in the tango chess opening, highlighting the immediate d5 with 95, opportunities for counterattack, and dark-squared play to complicate defenses.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 - Marshall vs Torre example game4:44
Adams Torre puzzle - in tribute to Torre's mentor6:25
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.e49:21
Exciting Game example - Elburg vs Simmelink7:05
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.Qd46:26
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.e33:29
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.Qc25:52
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.Nc35:47
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.b310:01
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.Nd26:29
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.f43:22

Requirements

Knows the basics of playing Chess

Description

Welcome to our course dedicated to the provocative Knights' Tango System, also known as the Black Knights' Tango, Mexican Defense, Two Knights' Tango, or Kevitz–Trajkovic Defense. This strategy can be deployed effectively against both 1.e4 and 1.d4, paving your path to victory.

Learn from the legendary British Grandmaster Tony Miles, who leveraged this strategy to secure an impressive win rate of almost 60% over 95 games. This course also features a similar strategy for white pieces, known by various names including the Dunst Opening, Baltic Opening, Van Geet Opening, among others.

Instructed by FIDE CM Kingscrusher, this course delivers in-depth understanding and practical application of an early Queen's Knight move. This creates a novel and exciting opening with black pieces, capable of disrupting standard opening theory and provoking irreversible weaknesses in the opponent's position.

This opening shares similarities with the Alekhine defense due to its pawn provocation nature. FIDE CM Tryfon Gavriel aka "Kingscrusher" has employed this strategy with remarkable success, especially in faster time controls prevalent in today's Chess scene.

The 'Tango' element of this system lies in the knight's provocative transition from c6 to e5/e7 to g6. This move often weakens the opponent's pawn structure, providing tactical advantages. An effective way to accentuate these weaknesses is to employ a dark square strategy, facilitating knockout blows to the opponent's king.

Discover how to handle a potential space disadvantage by trading off dark-squared bishops and exposing the burden of space that the Knight's tango imposes on the opponent. Explore the "Mexican defence" recommended by FIDE CM Kingscrusher, which has delivered promising results in master games.

In conclusion, if you seek a novel, exciting opening with a proven track record, the Knights' Tango system can be your secret weapon. Embark on this journey for a fun-filled, rewarding Chess experience!

Who this course is for:

Beginner to intermediate chess players looking for an interesting chess opening to surprise Opponents

The Provocative Tango Chess Opening: Tactics and Strategy

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction to this Nc6 course2 lectures • 7min

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 - Declining Nimzovich Defence4 lectures • 34min

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bb5 - Ruy Lopez transposition5 lectures • 51min

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.d4 - Scotch Game Transposition13 lectures • 1hr 36min

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e524 lectures • 3hr 43min

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc612 lectures • 1hr 23min

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc310 lectures • 1hr 8min

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d512 lectures • 1hr 12min

Conclusions and Philosophical points1 lecture • 4min

Bonus1 lecture • 9min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: