Zaps and Traps in the Mexican Defense

ZAP:

     To strike suddenly and with force.

TRAP:

     A chess trap is a trick in the opening where if the bait is taken (piece or pawns), this would result in an advantage for your side.  If your opponent does not take the bait then you should have no advantage in the opening.
 

The Mexican Defense, also known as the Black Knights' Tango or Kevitz-Trajkovic Defense, is a chess opening characterized by the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6.

This position can also be reached by transposition by 1.d4 Nc6.  It originated 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 (the "Kevitz" in "Kevitz-Trajkovic Defense").  It was later played by the Yugoslav master Mihailo Trajkovic and the Soviet grandmaster Anatoly Lutikov.

After decades of obscurity, the opening was revitalized by International Master Georgi Orlov, who published a booklet and a book about it in 1992 and 1998, respectively.  Orlov rechristened the opening the "Black Knights' Tango."

Since 1992, the opening has been employed by a number of strong grandmasters, including Viorel Bologan, Joel Benjamin, Larry Christiansen, and Alex Yermolinsky.  Indeed, Yermolinsky has ventured it against the likes of Garry Kasparov.

Although fairly uncommon, the "Tango" has a sounder positional basis than most other offbeat openings: Black 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 transpositional, and may transpose to the King's Indian Defense, Nimzo-Indian Defense, Bogo-Indian Defense, Chigorin Defense, Ragozin System, Catalan Opening, and English Opening.

See the Wikipedia internet reference above for more about the Mexican Defense.

NAKAMURA

Originally I was working on a Mexican Defense chess database for www.chessville.com and I became fascinated with the Mexican Defense because of the 1925 game Frank J. Marshall – Carlos Torre which ended in 7 moves.  I was quite surprised that Marshall who was a grandmaster and also a very strong tactical player lost this game in only 7 moves.  How was this possible?

To really understand this opening you would have to look at the Zaps and Traps that exist in this opening from both the Black and White sides.  I had to create a database of chess traps in this opening.

I first looked at games where Black had won in 10 moves or less.  I then examined games where White had won in 10 moves or less but found that this was because Black had really blundered badly so these games were excluded from the database.  I next looked at games which ended in 11 to 15 moves where Black won, and finally examined games which White won in 11 to 15 moves and included only those games which did not have major errors.

I have included my game against Moonshot because the game transposed first into a Budapest Gambit and then a Blackburne-Hartlaub type of gambit.

GAMES

Early Pawn Chase Line With d5

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5

Torre Trap

Starting Position - Torre Trap

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.b3 e6

Later on in this position White will have two weak diagonals: a1-d4 and a5-d2.

This is the famous game that Marshall lost to Carlos Torre in seven moves.  White developed weak diagonals on a1-d4 and a5-d2 and lost very quickly because White could not cover the mate threat on f2.

Frank J. Marshall – Carlos Torre   New York, Bremen   1925
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

Middlekoop – Simmelink   RSC  1995

{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. d5 Ne5 4. b3 {Controls c4} (4. e4 e6 (4... Nxe4? 5. Qd4 +-) 5. Qd4 =) 4... e6 =/+ 5. Bg5 (5. Bb2!?  {should be investigated more closely} Bb4+ 6. Nc3 exd5 7. cxd5 =/+) 5... Bb4+ 6. Nd2 exd5 7. cxd5 Qe7 (7... h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Rc1 -/+) 8. g3??  {another step towards the grave} (better is 8. e3 -/+) 8... Nd3# 0-1
 

Analysis Franett   1992
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. d5 Ne5 4. b3 {Consolidates c4} (4. e4 e6= (4... Nxe4 ? 5. Qd4 +-)) 4... e6 =/+ 5. Bb2 Bb4+ 6. Nd2 ?? (better is 6. Nc3 =/+  {would hold out}) 6...Ne4 -+ 7. Bc1 (7. Bxe5 {hoping against hope} Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2 Nxd2 9. Kxd2 exd5 10. cxd5 -+) 7... Qf6 8. f3 (8. Ngf3 {is not the saving move} Ng4 9. Rb1 Nexf2 -+) 8... Nf2 !!  {Clearance to allow h4-d4} 9. Kxf2 {Decoy to f2} Ng4+ 10. Kg3 (10. Ke1 {desperation} Ne3 11. Rb1 Nxd1 12. Kxd1 exd5 13. cxd5 -+) 10... Bd6+ 11. Kxg4 Qf4+ 12. Kh3 Qh6+ 13. Kg4 f5# 0-1
 

Viswanathan Kartik (2075) – Dave Lloyd (2015)   C1.2001.0.00354  2001
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. d5 Ne5 4. b3 {Secures c4} e6 5. f4 (5. Bb2 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 exd5 7. cxd5 d6 =/+) 5... Ng6 6. dxe6 fxe6 7. g3 d5 (7... Bc5 8. Nc3 Ng4 -/+) 8. cxd5 (better is 8. Bg2 !?  -/+) 8... exd5 -+ 9. Bg2 Bf5 10. Bb2 c6 11. Nd2 (11. Nf3 Bb4+ 12. Bc3 Qb6 13. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 14. Qd2 Qe7 -/+) 11... Ng4 (11... Bc5 !? 12. e4 dxe4 13. Qe2 -+) 12. Qc1 ??  {the final mistake, not that it matters anymore} (better is 12. Bd4 Nxf4 13. gxf4 Qh4+ 14. Kf1 Nxh2+ 15. Rxh2 Qxh2 16. e3 -+)  12... Qb6 (12... Qb6 13. Nh3 Ne3 -+) 0-1
 

OTHER EARLY PAWN CHASE GAMES

White develops weak squares at e3 and f2 which proves fatal.

Bradley Dinan (1350) – Ian Sproates (1339)   IECC M Email/Corr Match    6/3/2000

1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 Nc6 3. d5 Ne5 4. Qc2 e6 5. f4 Bb4+ 6. Nd2? {Better was 6.Bd2 challenging the Black B. After Neg4 White has weak dark squares at e3 and f2. The black B will move to c5 to take advantage of these weak dark squares.} Neg4 7. dxe6 fxe6 8. Qb3 Bc5 9. h3 Bf2+ 10. Kd1 Ne3+ {White has to now sac the Q to avoid checkmate. But this also loses the game.} 0-1
 

Black sacrifices a N for 2 pawns, but plays another combination which loses the game.

Rudy C. Douven (2445) – Tom Bottema     BSG-HSG  1989
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. d5 {White gains space} Ne5 4. e4 Ng6 (4... Nxe4?  {doesn't solve anything} 5. Qd4 Nxf2 6. Kxf2 +-) 5. h4 h5 (5... Nxe4?  {doesn't lead to anything significant } 6. h5 Ne5 7. Qd4 Nxf2 8. Qxf2 +-) 6. Nc3 e5 7. Bg5 Be7 8. g3 {Controls f4} Ng4 (8... Bc5 +/=) 9. Bd2 (better is 9. d6!? cxd6 10. Nd5 +/-) 9...Bc5= 10. Nh3 Nxh4?? {with this move Black loses his initiative} (better is 10... O-O=  {the only rescuing move}) 11. gxh4+- Qxh4 12. Qf3 Nxf2??  {shortens the misery for Black} (better is 12... Qe7+-) 13. Nxf2 Bxf2+ 14. Ke2 (14. Ke2 Qe7 15. Kxf2 +-) 1-0
 

EARLY d5 THRUST AFTER BLACK MOVES 3…e6

Jorge Bustamante Horta – Benjamin Gongora   Carlos Torre Mem Op 14^th  12/14/01
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

Ali Hasani – Marco Antonio Fernandez Gil (2261)  EU Cup 20^th  10/3/04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. Qd4 Nexd5 8. e4 Qe7 9. Bd3?  {Because White wants to guard the e pawn he gets into trouble very quickly.} c5 {Now White either drops his Q at c4 or his R at h1 after 10.Qc4 b5 11.Qxb5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Bxc3+.} 10. Qc4 b5 0-1
 

In the current position (above, right) White is in trouble.  If 8.0-0 then 8…Qh4 threatens both f2 and h2.
 

Philip M. Collier – Alex Yermolinsky  (2615)   New York Open  Rd. 9  1993

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. d5 Ne7 5. e4 Ng6 6. Bd3 Bc5 7. Nge2 Ng4 8. b4 ({if 8.0-0 White still gets into deep trouble.} 8. O-O Qh4 9. h3 Nxf2 10. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 11. Kh1 d6 {-+ 3.83 Deep Fritz 8}) 8... Nxf2 9. Qb3 Nxd3+ 0-1
 

Volker Seifert (2099)-Enrique Llobell Cortell (2198)     Litohoto, Greece 1999
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. d5 {White gets more space} Ne7 5. e4 Ng6 6. Bd3 Bc5 7. Nge2??  {releasing the pressure on the opponent} (better is 7. Nf3 =  {would save the game}) 7... Ng4 -+ 8. O-O? (8. Rf1 Nxh2 9. b4 Nxf1 10. bxc5 -+) 8... Qh4 9. h3 Nxf2 10. Rxf2 Qxf2+ (Less advisable is 10... Bxf2+ 11. Kh1 -+) 11. Kh2 (11. Kh1 {otherwise it's curtains at once} d6 12. Nb5 -+ ) 11... Nh4 12. Nf4 exf4 13. Qf1 Qg3+ 14. Kh1 f3 15. gxf3 Nxf3 (15... Nxf3 16. Bf4 Qxf4 -+) 0-1
 

Other Games – Early Black e5 Pawn Thrust

Black sacs the B for the white pawn at h3 and White counters by playing Bg5 threatening the black Q at h4 (believing that the white Q is trapped), but White does not realize that Black threatens mate-in-one at h2 with Qg3.

Shimon Shahar – Gedali Szapiro      Netanya   1961
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

In this game Black allows White to get in h4 and h6 weakening the dark squares around the N at f6.  Black had to stop this pawn push with ...h5 after playing ...Bxc3+.   A white B-pin on the black Q gave White the decisive edge.

Crafty – MzBoop        Internet Chess Club      1/21/97
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

13. e4 O-O  {Nakamura: Black is at a large disadvantage because Black cannot escape the pin on f6 without losing the N aft f6.  All White has to do is play the N to e2, c3, d1, e3 and g4 which should win.}1-0
 

Crafty – MzBoop        Internet Chess Club      1/21/97
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. d5 {White gains space} Ne7 5. g3 Ng6 6. h4 h5 7. Bh3 Bc5 8. Bg5 d6 (8... Bb4 9. Qb3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3+/=) 9. Qa4+ Bd7 10. Qb3 Bxh3 11. Nxh3 O-O (11... Bb6!?  +/-) 12. Ne4!  +-  {the knock-out blow} (12. Ne4 c6 13. O-O-O +-) (12. Qxb7?! Rb8 13. Qa6 Rb6=) 1-0
 

White does not realize that the pawn at f2 is vulnerable to an attack with Ng4.  And Black wins a pawn and has an excellent game with chances to attack the White kingside.

Roberto Conte (1974) – Jeff L. Johnsrud (2300)   A023  SEMI  8/10/01
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. d5 {White gets more space} Ne7 5. Nf3 Ng6 6. a3 {Covers b4} Bc5 7. e4 (better is 7. h4 {and White hangs on} d6 8. h5+/=) 7... Ng4-/+ 8. Be3 Bxe3 9. fxe3 Nxe3 10. Qd2 Nxf1 11. Rxf1 d6 12. g3 (12. Kf2 O-O-/+) 0-1
 

Black prepares to blow open the center with c6 and d5 which should free Black’s game, but there is a nasty surprise at the end of the exchanges where Black drops the R at a8 after Bf3.

Crafty (2920) – Insight (2651)      ICC 5 min. 3 sec per game     4/10/02
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. d5 {White gets more space} Nb8 5. Nf3 d6 {Covers e5} 6. e4 g6 (6... Be7 7. Be2+/-) 7. Be2 Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Nd2 c5 10. dxc6 bxc6 11. O-O d5? (better is 11... Be6!?  +/=  is the best option Black has) 12. exd5 cxd5 13. cxd5 Nxd5??  {sad, but how else could Black save the game?} (better is 13... Re8+-) 14. Nxd5 Qxd5 (14... Be6 {cannot change what is in store for ?} 15. Nc3+-) 15. Bf3 (15. Bf3 Qd7 16. Bxa8 +-) 1-0
 

White gets greedy and wins a pawn at h5, not realizing that Black will threaten checkmate at f2 and threaten to capture B at h5 at the same time.

James Peet – Vedanth Kumar     Douglas IOM    8/4/05

Black wins the pawn at d4 but White comes out ahead in the ensuing combination by picking off some pawns.  White has the 2-pawn advantage after the exchanges.

Maxim Chetverik (2302) – Remi Lonnoy (1985)  Lafere Op 5^th  7/14/06
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. d5 {White wins space} Ne7 5. e4 Ng6 6. h4 Bb4 (6... h5 7. Bg5=) 7. h5 Ne7 8. Qf3 h6 {Prevents intrusion on g5} 9. Qg3 Nxe4 10. Qxg7 {Traps the king in the center} Rg8 11. Qxe5 Nxc3 (better is 11... f5!?  {has some apparent merit} 12. Nh3 c6 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. Bxh6 Qb6+/-) 12. bxc3+- d6 13. Qf6 Ba5 14. Bd2 Bf5? (better is 14... Nf5 15. Qxd8+ Kxd8+/-) 15. O-O-O+- (15. O-O-O Bb6 16. c5 Bxc5 17. Re1+-) (15. Qxh6?! Qd7+-) (15. Bxh6?! Qd7+-) 1-0
 

White has a weakness on the f2 square which proves fatal. White defends the kingside but drops the white Q.

Luc Geerts (1555) – Youri Krasucki (2048)        Charleroi Op      7/29/06 
A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. d5 Ne7 5. e4 Ng6 6. a3 {Controls b4} Bc5 7. Bd3 d6 8. Nge2??  {not a good decision, because now the opponent is right back in the game} (better is 8. Nf3=  {was possible}) 8... Ng4-+ 9. O-O (9. Qa4+ {the only chance to get some counterplay} Bd7 10. Qc2 Bxf2+ 11. Kf1 -+) 9...Qh4 10. h3 Nxf2 11. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 12. Kh2 (12. Kh1 {is one last hope} Bxh3! {Demolishes the pawn shield} 13. Qg1-+) 12... Nh4 13. Qg1 Nf3+ (13... Nf3+14. Kh1 Nxg1-+) 0-1
 

White plays a3 and b4 to chase the Black B away from the c5 square but Black plays Bd4 to pin the N at c3 and this leads to a combination which wins for Black. White loses the Q at g7.

Peter Swoboda – C. Barlocco    10th TCh-Euro sen/Dresden GER     2/15/08
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. d5 {White wins space} Ne7 5. e4 Ng6 6. a3 {Consolidates b4} Bc5 7. b4 (7. Bd3!?  =  is noteworthy) 7... Bd4-/+ 8. Nge2 Nxe4 {Clearance to allow f7-f6} 9. Nxd4 ? (9. Nxe4 {A pinning theme} Bxa1) 9...Nxc3 -+ 10. Qd3 exd4 11. Qxd4 Qe7+ 12. Be3 Ne4 13. Qxg7 (13. Bd3 f5-+) 13... Nf6 14. Be2? (14. Qh6 Ng4 15. Qg5 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 17. fxe3-+) 14... h6!  {Theme: Clearance for h8-h6} 15. Bd4 (15. Bxh6 {A pinning theme} Rg8) 15... Nh5 (15... Nh5 16. Qxh8+ Nxh8-+) 0-1
 

Transposition Into A Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e5 4. dxe5 Ng4

In the following game Black transposed into the Budapest Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5) and again later transposed into a Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit type of position. Later in the game Black sacrificed a N for a pawn on h2 and this sac seriously weakened White’s kingside position. In the end Black’s kingside attack was too strong.

MoonShot (2430) – Evilone (2100)   ICC  1998  Game 15 minutes
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5 4.dxe5 {transposition into a Budapest Defense type of position} Ng4 5.e3 {Prevents intrusion on d4} (5.Bg5 Be7 +/=) 5...d6 (5...d6 6.exd6 Qxd6 +/= ) (5...Ngxe5!? 6.Be2 Nxf3+ 7.Bxf3 Qh4 =) 6.exd6 +/= Bxd6 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O Be6 9.Nc3 f5 (9...a6!? +/-) 10.Nb5+- [diagram]

19. Nd4 +/= (19. Nxc7??  {succumbs to an attractive mate} Rh6 20. Bh5 Nf3+ 21. gxf3 Rxh5 22. Rfe1 Qxf3 23. Nxe6 Qh1#) 19... Qh4 (19... Bxa2?  {leads to nothing} 20. b3 Kh8 21. Nf5 +-) 20. g3??  {there were better ways to keep up the pressure} (better is 20. f4 {would hold out} Rxf4 21. Nxe6 Rxf1+ 22. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 23. Kxf1 Qf6+ 24. Kg1 Qxe6 25. Qa4 +/=) 20... Qh3 -+ 21. Nf5 (21. Bb5 -+  {the only chance to get some counterplay}) 21... Bxf5 22. Rfe1 Rh6 23. Qb3+ Be6 24. Qxe6+ Qxe6 (24... Rxe6 25. a3 Rh6 26. f4 Qxg3+ 27. Kf1 Rh1#) 25. f4 Qh3 26. Kf2 Qh2+ 27. Ke3 Qxg3+ 28. Kd2 Qxf4+ 29. Kc2 Qxe4+ 30. Bd3 Qa4+ 31. Kb1 Nxd3 32. Rxd3 (32. Rd2? {cannot change what is in store for} Nxe1 33. b3 Qe4+ 34. Kc1 Qe3 35. a4 Nd3+ 36. Kc2 Nb4+ 37. Kb2 Qxd2+ 38. Ka3 Nd3 39. c6 Qb2#) 32... Rh2 33. Rc1 (33. Rc3 {does not solve anything} Qb4 34. Re2 Rxe2 35. b3 Qe4+ 36. Ka1 Rf1+ 37. Rc1 Rxc1#) 33... Qe4 34. Ka1 (34. a3 {doesn't get the cat off the tree} Qxd3+ 35. Ka2 Rxb2+ 36. Kxb2 Rf2+ 37. Ka1 Qxa3+ 38. Kb1 Qa2#) 34... Qxd3 35. a4 (35. a3 doesn't change anything anymore Qb3 36. Rb1 Rf1 37. Rxf1 Qxb2#) 35... Qb3 36. Rc2 Rf1+ 37. Rc1 Rxc1# (37... Qxb2# ?! =  succumbs to) 0-1
 

Nimzo-Indian Defense Position

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 Bb4

The e4 pawn fork of the White B at d3 and White N at f3 leads to loss of the Rook.

N. Tverdovski – Oleg Berezin (2451)     Open/Alushta UKR   1999
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qc2 d6 {Covers e5} 6. e3 (6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 O-O +/=) 6... O-O 7. Bd3 e5 8. d5 {This push gains space} Ne7 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 (10. Qxc3? e4 11. Nd4 exd3 12. Qxd3 Ng6-+) 10... Re8 11. Rb1??  {White loses the upper hand} (better is 11. a3=  saving the game) 11... e4! -+  {Theme: Double Attack} (11... e4 12. Bxe4 Nxe4-+ {Nakamura:  After 13.Qxe4 Bf5 the White R at b1 drops.}) 0-1
 

Black mistakenly over-guards the pawn at e4 but does not realize that the queenside-B can be picked off in a simple combination.

Martin Kubala (2295) – Matej Vyparina (2120)    Decin Op-A   1998
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e3 d6 {Secures e5} 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O e5 (7... Bxc3 8. bxc3 e5 9. Rb1 =) 8. Nd5+/= e4 9. Nd2 (9. Nxb4?  {is nothing because of} exf3 (worse is 9... Nxb4 10. Nd2+/=) 10. Bxf3 Nxb4 -+) 9... Re8 (9... Nxd5 10. cxd5 Bxd2 11. Bxd2+/=) 10. Nb3 (better is 10. f3 Nxd5 11. cxd5 exf3 12. Bxf3+/- (worse is 12. Rxf3 Ne7 +/=)) 10... Bf5?? (better is 10...Nxd5 {had to be tried to avoid defeat} 11. cxd5 Na5=) 11. a3 Ba5 (11... Nxd5 12. cxd5 Ne7 13. axb4 Nxd5 14. Ra5+-) 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. d5 (13. d5 Bb6 14. dxc6 bxc6 15. Nd4 +-) (13. Nxa5?!  {is clearly inferior} Nxa5 14. d5 b6=) 1-0
 

White tries to move the Black N away from its post at b4 with the move a3, but does not realize that the White Q can be trapped with Blacks’ a4 move.

Thomas Roussel Roozmon – Dinara Khaziyeva  CAN-Ch U20/Quebec 2000
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qb3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 f5 8. e3 b6 9. Nd2 Nxd2 10. Bxd2 Bb7 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Bc3 a5 13. f3 (13. Qb3 O-O +/=) 13... Nb4 14. Qb3 c5 15. a3??  {an unfortunate move that relinquishes the win} (better is 15. h4= {was much better}) 15... a4-+ (15... a4 16. Qxb4 cxb4 17. Bxb4 d6-+) 0-1
 

Black Plays The Small Center With Pawns at e6 & d6

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4.a3 d6

Black plays the small center (pawns at d6 and e6) and later exchanges queens but loses the R at h8.

Crafty – Krak      Mmeics/Boston, MA USA     8/7/2000
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. a3 {Prevents intrusion on b4} d6 {Controls e5 Nakamura: Black has the small center pawn formaion.} 5. Nc3 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O Re8 9. Be3 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 (11... Rxe5 12. Bd4 Re8 13. Qd3+/=) 12. Qxd8+/- Rxd8 13. Nb5 c6 (13... Ne8 14. Nxa7 (worse is 14. Bxa7 c6 =/+) 14... Be6 15. Nb5 +/-) 14. Nc7 (14. Nc7 Rb8 15. Bxa7+/-) (14. Nxa7?! Be6 15. f3 Rd4 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. Nxc6 bxc6=) 1-0
 

Bishop Pin on N at f6

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4.Bg5

Joop Theo Simmelink (2300) – Jeff L. Johnsrud    BNTango – A Mail  8/10/2000
{A50: Queen's Fianchetto Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 b6)}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 {Consolidates d5} 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 g5 6. Bg3 Nh5 7. e3 {Covers f4} Nxg3 8. hxg3 d6 9. Bd3 Bg7 10. f4 {White gave away what small advantage he had. Better was Nge2.} Qe7 11. a3 {Secures b4} e5 (11... Bd7 12. b4 =) 12. Nd5 +/= Qd8 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. fxe5??  {forfeits the advantage  Nakamura: This is a bad move because it activates Black's N at  c6  after 14...Nxe5 and gives Black the advantage.} (better is  14. fxg5 {would keep White alive} Be6 15. gxh6 Rxh6 16. Rxh6 Bxh6 17. Qh5 +/=  ) 14... Nxe5 -+ (14... Nxe5 15. Nf3 c6 16. Nxe5 Bxe5-+ {Nakamura:  After 17. Nc3 Black has 17...Bxg3+ winning the pawn at g3 and it would be difficult for White to hold the endgame.} (16... cxd5?! 17. Qa4+ Kf8 18. Qb4+ Kg8 19. Nf3=)) (14... Bxe5?! 15. Qc2 Bxg3+ 16. Kf1 =/+) 0-1
 

Transposition into a Bogo-Indian Opening

Black transposes into a Bogo-Indian opening and  during the game Black gets greedy and steals the pawn at a3, but loses the game through a combination which either loses a B or the R at a8 because of a N fork at c7 with check.

Joanna Worek (2203) – Li Thoth (2139)  WYG16/Oropesa de Mar ESP  10/28/01

Other Games

White avoids the exchange of Knights and loses the Q.

Venert – Ventzeslav Mechkarov    Ch Bulgaria  1970

1. d4 Nc6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. d5 Ne5 6. Nd2 {White had better options such as:  6.Nxe5  6.Qb3  6.Qa4+  Which would have avoided the loss of the Q.} Nd3+ 0-1
 

Black again gets into deep trouble by avoiding the exchange of N’s.  This leads to a cramped game where the Black N is trapped and will drop.

Ignat Diana – Andreescu Nicoleta Aurora   Ch Team Romania  1994
{D07: Queen's Gambit: Chigorin Defence}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Ndb4? (better is 5... Nxc3!?  {and Black has air to breath} 6. bxc3 e5 +/=) 6. a3 +- Na6 7. Be3 e6 8. Nf3 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Nab8? (better is 10... Bd6 +/-) 11. d5 +- exd5 12. exd5 (12. Nxd5?! Bd6 +/- ) (12. Qxd5?! Be6 13. Qh5 Nd7 +/-) 12... Na5 13. b4 (13. b4 c6 14. bxa5 Qxa5 15. Qd3 +-) 1-0
 

The following game shows the classic “Fishing Pole” trap where a N is sacrificed to open up the h-file.  Actually this tactic is a part of every chess master's middlegame repertoire of tricks.

Babylyub – Pressurized      ICS Rated Blitz Match/Chess.Net INT     10/26/98

12. hxg4? White took the piece bait and now cannot escape checkmate.} hxg4 13. Bf4 (13. f3 g3 14. Nd5 (14. Be3 Qh1#) (14. f4 Qh2#) 14... Qh1#) (13. f4 g3 14. Qh5 Rxh5 15. Nd5 Qh1#) 13... Qh1# 0-1

CONCLUSION

When I started to compile a Mexican Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6) chess database of games for Chessville, I had been intrigued by the game Marshall – Torre  1925.  How in the world could a grandmaster-strength player who was one of the top-ten players in the world, lose so quickly in a mere seven moves?

Then the question became what other strange but deadly positions can and do occur in the Mexican Defense?  For any chess opening that you play, you should be very aware of the zaps and traps that exist in the opening, otherwise you will get you into trouble when playing that opening in a tournament or a blitz game.

The Mexican Defense is a very highly transpositional chess opening and can transpose into a host of many different openings such as the King's Indian Defense, Nimzo-Indian Defense, Bogo-Indian Defense, Chigorin Defense, Ragozin System, and English Opening.

The Mexican Defense has a sounder positional basis than most other unorthodox chess openings.  Black develops quickly, has a flexible pawn structure, and is prepared to strike back in the center with 3...e5, or with ...e6 and ...d5.

Like the Alekhine’s Defense (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5), this opening has elements of the hypermodern spirit where Black can entice the White pawns forward after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6.  White can play 3.d5 chasing the N away from the c6 square but White has to be very careful not to overextend it's pawn structure.

This opening has a very sound positional basis and can quickly transpose into mainstream Nimzo-Indian and Bogo-Indian positions.  White has to be very careful and not try to refute this opening quickly, otherwise White will suffer the consequences.  Actually because of the Mexican Defense’s transpositional capabilities, White has many way to go wrong.

Black has some problems because White has the space advantage in a good majority of the games that I have seen.  I really do not like to play a cramped position because it takes more moves to defend a weak spot on the board.  I did notice that because Black has a cramped position, there are less variations to calculate.  And playing the Black side would be easier than playing the White side of this opening.

In this article I have only covered the chess zaps and traps that do exist in the Mexican Defense.  This is the starting point of understanding how to play the Mexican Defense correctly.  You will still need to study chess books, chess articles and chess games that do cover the Mexican Defense because there still exists deeper tactics and strategy in this opening.
 

REFERENCES

Zipped PGN file with the games from this article

Zipped PGN file with 5978 games and lines

Black Knights Tango at AllExperts (short article)
     http://en.allexperts.com/e/b/bl/black_knights%27_tango.htm

Black Knights Tango Part 1 – Jeremy Silman
     http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_opng_shrtcts/01_black_knights_tango.html

Black Knights Tango Part 2 – Jeremy Silman
     http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_opng_shrtcts/040424_black_knights_tango.html

Black Knights Tango Part 3 – Jeremy Silman
     http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_opng_shrtcts/040528_black_knights_tango_3.html

Black Knights Tango Part 4 – Jeremy Silman
     http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_opng_shrtcts/040731_black_knights_tango_4.html

Chesscafe.com (chess book)
     http://shop.chesscafe.com/item.asp?PID=981

Chess.com – Comments on the Mexican Defense
     http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/mexican-defense

Encyclopedia of Chess Wisdom – chess book by Eric Schiller
     Mexican Defense – page 31-32

Tango! A dynamic answer to 1.d4
     Chess Book Reviewed by Rick Kennedy: http://www.chessville.com/reviews/tango.htm

Unorthodox Chess Openings 2^nd Edition – chess book by Eric Schiller
     Mexican Defense - Page 288

Wikipedia
     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Knights%27_Tango

Yahoo Unorthodox Chess Openings Newsgroup Messages
     1. If you do a search by the words “Black Knights Tango”, you will find 44 messages.
     2. If you do a search by the words “Mexican Defense”, you will find 41 messages.

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Copyright 2009 Clyde Nakamura. All rights reserved.

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Unorthodox Chess Openings

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