The Surprising Black Knights' Tango - Unleash Winning Strategies as Black! - ChessBase

The Black Knights’ Tango, also known as the Mexican Defense, is a bold and unconventional opening that puts White on edge from the very first moves. After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6!?, Black takes the initiative, luring White into overextending their central pawns, only to dismantle them with precise counterplay.

This flexible system allows Black to dictate the game’s direction. While 3.d5 might seem tempting for White, it’s often avoided in favor of moves like 3.Nc3 or 3.Nf3. Here, Black can seamlessly transition into dynamic setups such as the Bogo- Indian, Nimzo-Indian, or even the King’s Indian Defense. The variety keeps opponents guessing and offers rich opportunities for creative play. In this comprehensive course, FIDE Senior Trainer Andrew Martin guides you through the exciting world of the Tango, preparing you to confidently deploy this opening in competitive games. Tailored for players under a 2000 rating, Martin’s clear explanations and actionable strategies will supercharge your repertoire. The Tango is not just an opening – it’s a weapon, designed for players who want to win as Black. Let Andrew Martin, a trusted ChessBase contributor since 2005, equip you with the skills to surprise and conquer your opponents!

Extensive training content and interactive exercises in ChessBase Books:

Solve exercises & and test your knowledge with the opening trainer.

Video running time: 4 hours 55 minutes

What you will receive:

• Fritztrainer App for Windows
• Available as download or on DVD
• Video course with a running time of approx. 4-8 hrs.
• Repertoire database: save and integrate Fritztrainer games into your own repertoire (in WebApp Opening or in ChessBase)
• Interactive exercises with video feedback: the authors present exercises and key positions, the user has to enter the solution. With video feedback (also on mistakes) and further explanations.
  
• Sample games as a ChessBase database.

What the FritzTrainer App can do for you:

• Videos can run in the Fritztrainer app or in the ChessBase program with board graphics, notation and a large function bar
• Analysis engine can be switched on at any time
• Video pause for manual navigation and analysis in game notation
• Input of your own variations, engine analysis, with storage in the game
• Learn variations: view specific lines in the ChessBase WebApp Opening with auto play, memorize variations and practice transformation (initial position - final position).
• Active opening training: selected opening positions are transferred to the ChessBase WebApp Fritz-online. In a match against Fritz you test your new knowledge and actively play the new opening.

Even more possibilities: Start FritzTrainer in the ChessBase program!

• The database with all games and analyses can be opened directly.
• Games can be easily added to the opening reference.
• Direct evaluation with game reference, games can be replayed on the analysis board
• Your own variations are saved and can be added to the own repertoire
• Replay training
• LiveBook active
• All engines installed in ChessBase can be started for the analysis
• Assisted Analysis
• Print notation and diagrams (for worksheets)

Contents

• 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 - Introduction
• Introduction and Potter vs Benjamin - 3.d5 Ne5 4.e4 e6
• 3.d5 Ne5 4.e4/b3: Saemisch - Torre Repetto & Marshall - Torre Repetto
• 3.Nc3 e5 4.dxe5 Nxe5 5.e4 Bc5: Shahar - Szapiro
• 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e4 Ng6: Spiller - Orlov
• 3.Nf3 e6 4.Bg5 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 h6: Wachtel - Yermolinsky
• 3.Nf3 e6 4.a3 g6: Kiselev - Pilavov
• 3.Nf3 e6 4.g3 g6: Martirosyan - Nakamura
• 3.Nf3 e6 4.g3 d6: Wagh - Caruana
• The Repertoire - Introduction
• The Repertoire
• 3.d5
• 3...Ne5 4.e4 e6 5.f4 Ng6 6.e5 Ne4: Lamaze - Vlassov
• 3...Ne5 4.e3 e6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0-0: Vasilevich - Kosteniuk
• 3...Ne5 4.Qd4 Ng6 5.e4 e5 6.Qd3 Bc5: Svela - Efimov
• 3.d5 Ne5 4.Qc2 e6 5.e4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qe7 - Maki - Yermolinsky
• Summary
• 3.Nf3
• 3.Nf3 e6
• Introduction
• 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Bg2 Bxd2 7.Nxbd2 d6 8.e4 e5 9.d5 Nb8 10.b4: Silman - Orlov
• 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Bg2 Bxd2 7.Nxbd2 d6 8.0-0 a5 9.e4 e5 10.d5 Nb8 11.Ne1 0-0: Mamedjarova - Naiditsch
• 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Bg2 Bxd2 7.Nxbd2 d6 8.0-0 a5 9.e4 e5 10.d5 Nb8 11.Ne1 h5: Soln - Wahls
• 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Bg2 Bxd2 7.Nxbd2 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qc2 a5: Krishnater - Karthikeyan
• 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Bg2 Bxd2 7.Nxbd2 d6 8.0-0 a5 9.Nb1 0-0 10.Nc3 Bd7: Bosboom - Kasimdzhanov
• 4.a3 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.e4 d6 7.Be3 0-0: Kiselev - Pilavov
• 4.a3 d6 5.Nc3 g6 6.d5 Nb8 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0: Donchenko - Kritz
• 3.Nf3 e6 4.Nc3
• 4...Bb4 5.Qc2 d6 6.Bd2 0-0 7.a3 Bxc3: Docx - Hausrath
• 4...Bb4 5.Qc2 d6 6.Bd2 0-0 7.e3 e5: Konyshev - Bologan
• 4...Bb4 5.Qc2 d6 6.Bg5 h6: Flear - Bologan
• 4...Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Ne4: Turcan - Rozentalis
• 4...Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Ne4: Turincio Garcia - Vlassov
• 3.Nf3 e6 4th move alternatives
• 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 g5: Janik - Gajewski
• 4.Bf4 Bb4+: Antova - Pranav
• Summary
• 3.Nc3
• 3.g3 and 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e4 Ng6 6.h4 h5 7.Bg5 Bc5: Nesterov - Praggnanandhaa
• 3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.a3 Ng6 6.h4 h5 7.Bg5 d6: Khegay vs Caruana
• 3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.h4 h5 6.Nf3 Ng6 7.Bg5 Be7: Erdos - Bologan
• 3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.h4 Neg8 6.Nf3 Ng4: Zujev - Gupta
• 3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e4 Ng6 6.Be3 Bb4 7.Qc2 Bxc3: Parnali - Sadwhani
• 3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e4 Ng6 6.Be3 Bb4 7.f3 Bxc3: Jelen - Dizdarevic
• 3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e4 Ng6 6.Bd2 Bc5: Karttunen - Georgiev
• Outro
• Exercises
• Exercise 1
• Exercise 2
• Exercise 3
• Exercise 4
• Exercise 5
• Exercise 6
• Exercise 7
• Exercise 8
• Exercise 9
• Exercise 10
• Exercise 11
• Exercise 12
• Exercise 13
• Exercise 14
• Repertoire Training
• 3.d5
• 3.Nc3
• 3.Nf3
• 3.g3
• Bonus
• Analysis
• Model Games
• Repertoire