May We Have This Dance?

"The Black Knights' Tango" by Georgi Orlov, 1998 Batsford Ltd.,
Figurine Algebraic Notation, Softcover, 128pp., $19.95

There can be little doubt that opening books are the most popular
chess books in the market today. Chess book publishers know that
readers will generally beat a path to acquire the latest on the
Najdorf, King's Indian, Spanish or most other mainstream
openings. Marketability becomes a little less clear, however, when
the opening is offbeat or irregular. As a result, promotion of the
book often entails hype and exaggeration designed to attract the
recalcitrant reader/buyer. Sometimes this hype is justified,
sometimes not.

About six years ago, IM Georgi Orlov had a monograph released
by Inside Chess on a little known Black defense that arose after 1
d4 Nf6 2 c4 Nc6. This defense had been occasionally employed by
the Mexican Grandmaster Carlos Torre and had therefore been
occasionally dubbed the Mexican Defense. Orlov, a regular
contributor to Inside Chess and a regular fixture at tournaments in
the American northwest for the last decade, has become probably
the main advocate of this defense, although it gained additional
credibility when adopted by Alex Yermolinsky, most notably in
1996 against Gary Kasparov.

The first edition used a large newsprint format (similar to the way
the monthly magazine Inside Chess is produced) and was relatively
inexpensive. In this second Batsford edition, Orlov has combined
his practical experience with the defense with his re-working and
re-evaluation of many lines to produce a greatly enlarged edition
that is better in every respect. Of course, it does suffer from the
publisher's hype noted above...

The front cover states that you will "Outwit your opponents from
move 2!" while emblazoned across the top of the back cover is "A
new opening which enables Black to call the tune!". It is further
described as "a complete repertoire for Black in those variations
which transpose to other openings."

A brief introduction where a short history of the opening is
presented is followed by four chapters, categorized by White's
replies on the third move. Thus, after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 Nc6, Chapter 1
discusses the aggressive 3 d5, Chapter Two the Fianchetto
Variation 3 g3, Chapter 3 the so-called 'Queen Knight's
Variation', 3 Nc3, while the fourth and final chapter, comprising
more than half of the entire book, is about the most difficult move
for Black to handle, 3 Nf3.

It is not uncommon for authors who are discussing favorite lines or
who are attempting to shape a repertoire system to overlook
inferior variations, seeking to direct the reader's attention only to
the 'best' lines. To his credit, Orlov's presentation is even-handed
for both sides. Inferior lines for both sides are discussed,
alternatives explained and, most importantly, the ideas behind the
moves are usually clearly laid out.

A case in point: After the moves 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nf3 e6 4 g3
(See Diagram) Orlov goes into the following explanation for the
reader...

"The kingside fianchetto is always a solid choice. Now the game
will often transpose into the Bogo-Indian Defence or sometimes
even the Catalan Opening. The play is mostly quiet, both sides
trying to out-manoeuvre one another. It is important to understand
the underlying plans well, so I will try to offer some ideas in the
theoretical lines.

4...Bb4+

I believe that 4...Bb4+ is the best continuation, but 4...d5 was tried
once in Appleberry-Orlov, Seattle 1991. 4...d5 5 cxd5?! White
releases the tension, which is clearly to the benefit of his opponent,
who now has scope for his light-squared bishop. Instead 5 Bg2 is
better, keeping Black wondering as to what to do with his light-
squared bishop. After 5 Bg2 dxc4 6 0-0 the game transposes into
the Catalan Opening. 5...exd5 6 Bg2 Bb4+ 7 Bd2 a5. I like this
move, which is very often played in the Black Knights' Tango.
There are several reasons why this move is good. First, it gives a
solid protection to the bishop and if White plays Bxb4 then after
...a5xb4 the queen's rook gets an open file without having had to
move once. The a2-pawn will be under some pressure in such a
case. Another important point is that if White plays a2-a3, Black's
bishop can retreat or capture on d2 and then Black can often play
...a5-a4, fixing White's queenside pawns and making the a5-square
available for his queen's knight, from where it could occupy c4 and
b3..."

When this opening transposes into another, Orlov usually (but not
always) offers the reader enough analysis to give one some sense
how proceed. Thus, for example, there are several points where
Black may elect to fianchetto the King's Bishop, leading to
positions that directly transpose into the King's Indian Defense.
These are treated, if not in depth, at least adequately, so that the
student has some idea what to do.

Of course, when an irregular opening, or at least one that is not
held in high regard, is used at the level of IM and GM play with
satisfactory results, it is often difficult to tell whether the result
achieved is due to the surprise value of the opening or the talent of
the player venturing it. So when Anand essayed The Center
Counter (a/k/a The Scandinavian) Defense against World
Champion Gary Kasparov in their title match, obtaining a good
position therefrom, was that because Kasparov was surprised or
because Anand was a world class player? In that instance, probably
a combination of both. Likewise, when Orlov faces lesser
opposition with this opening with good results, it is hard to
attribute the success entirely to the opening.

We recently pointed out in the review of Dunnington's "Easy
Guide to the Reti" that otherwise very good repertoire books are
occasionally marred by simple omissions. In that case, we
criticized the failure of the author to deal with 1...c5 as a possible
response to 1 Nf3. In all other respects, it was a fairly
comprehensive treatment of this opening. (Interested readers may
find the review in The Chess Cafe Archives.) "The Black Knights'
Tango" has a similar omission; it is not unusual, even a the club
level, after 1 d4 Nf6 to find White playing 2 Nf3. (Of course, the
same position is also often reached after 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 d4.) What's a
player to do? Certainly 2...Nc6 does not appear playable, as the
prematurely aggressive - at least in the main line - 3 d5 now
appears to become a formidable thrust. Should 2...e6 or 2...d6 be
played? It would appear in those instances that Black runs the risk
of transposing into completely different openings, such as the
French or the Pirc.

Be that as it may, in the 'normal' move order 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 Nc6,
there is no doubt that the most difficult line for Black to face is 3
Nf3. In this regard, Orlov makes no false promises. He states that
Black "...is more than likely to achieve an equal game." This does
not mean Black always equalizes; it means there are lines where
Black may come out of the opening with a slight disadvantage. 

All things considered, however, players seeking to reach relatively
lesser known positions out of the opening with real counter-
punching opportunities may find this opening to their liking. Orlov
has done a good job combining the lure of the unexplored with
sound analytical theory to produce a viable, fully playable
defensive system that may well be on its way to gaining a foothold
on many players' dance cards.

["Black Knights' Tango by Georgi Orlov is now available in The
Chess Cafe Online Bookstore.]