Indian: Mexican Defence, 3.Nf3 e6
Indian Game: Mexican Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6)
Definition
The Mexican Defence – more formally “Indian Game: Mexican Defence” and often called the Black Knights’ Tango – is an off-beat response to 1.d4 that begins with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6. After occupying the central light squares with knights, Black aims for flexible transpositions into a variety of Indian-type structures (King’s Indian, Nimzo-Indian, Queen’s Indian) or independent lines featuring …e5 or …d5.
How the Opening Is Used
- Surprise Weapon: Because it is less common than mainstream Queen’s Gambit or King’s Indian set-ups, the Mexican Defence often catches 1.d4 players out of book early.
- Flexibility: Black keeps pawn structure fluid. Depending on White’s third move (3.Nf3, 3.Nc3, 3.d5, etc.) Black may choose …e6, …g6, …d6, or the immediate break …e5.
- Piece Activity: Black’s two developed knights exert early influence on d4, e5, and b4, striving for dynamic play rather than classical pawn occupation of the centre.
Strategic Ideas & Typical Plans
- Central Break …e5. In many lines Black plays …e5 (often after …d6 or …d5) to challenge the d4-pawn directly. This can lead to Benoni-type structures.
- Queen’s Indian / Nimzo Transpositions. After 3.Nf3 e6 (the subject of the next entry) Black may follow with …Bb4 or …b6, heading into well-known Indian families while having avoided lines White may have prepared.
- Minor-Piece Manoeuvres. The “Tango” nickname comes from recurring moves such as …Nc6–e7–g6 or …Na5–c6–e5, where the knights “dance” across the board to reach ideal outposts.
Historical Significance
The line is named in honour of the Mexican grandmaster Carlos Torre (1904-1978), who employed the set-up in the 1920s. Its modern renaissance came in the 1980s when masters such as GM Georgi Orlov and IM Michael Rohde published analyses branding it the Black Knights’ Tango. Today the defence enjoys sporadic appearances at elite level as a sideline with fighting chances.
Illustrative Mini-Game
The following snippet shows the typical “knight dance” leading to sharp play:
Black has steered into a pseudo-Ragozin with aggressive kingside intentions.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Because the line begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 (the mirror of 1.e4 Nc6, the Nimzowitsch Defence), some sources dub it the “Nimzowitsch-Indian,” though that term is rarely used in modern literature.
- GM Kasparov experimented with the defence in blitz against top contemporaries, reportedly calling it “a practical weapon when you want to play for a win from move two.”
- The Tango has been seen in computer chess; engines appreciate its structural flexibility more than early evaluators did, giving it occasional presence in top engine contests.
3.Nf3 e6 (Key Move-Order in the Mexican Defence)
Definition
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6, the most popular reply is 3.Nf3, reinforcing the d4-pawn and discouraging …e5. Black’s principal answer is 3…e6 – a restrained move that prepares …d5 or …Bb4 while keeping the option of …g6. The short phrase “3.Nf3 e6” therefore denotes an entire branch of the Mexican Defence and functions as a crossroads leading to multiple Indian-style systems.
Purpose & Strategic Meaning
- Controlling d5: The pawn on e6 supports a later …d5 push, potentially transposing into Queen’s Gambit-type structures where the knight already on c6 creates new nuances.
- Preparing …Bb4: Black can instantly pin the knight on c3 (if White plays it) with …Bb4, entering a Ragozin-inspired set-up but with the c6-knight adding extra pressure on d4.
- Elastic Defence: By refraining from an immediate pawn break, Black keeps both …d6 and …g6 in reserve, still able to reach Benoni or King’s Indian formations should the position warrant.
Typical Continuations
- 4.Nc3 d5 5.Bg5 (Neo-Tango Ragozin). The game resembles a Queen’s Gambit Ragozin but with Black’s knight on c6 rather than b8.
- 4.a3 d5 5.Nc3 dxc4 (Queen’s Gambit Accepted hybrid). White forces a QGA-style capture; Black hopes the knight pressure compensates for the temporary pawn pull.
- 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 d5. A speedy development scheme leading to equal chances.
Model Game
Aronian – Artemiev, Goldmoney Asian Rapid 2021 (rapid time control) reached a textbook Mexican Defence via 3…e6:
The struggle revolved around central tension and piece activity – hallmarks of the 3.Nf3 e6 move-order.
Historical & Practical Notes
- GM David Bronstein was an early adopter, playing 3…e6 repeatedly in the 1960s, often out-preparing opponents who expected …e5.
- The line offers transpositional value: after 4.Nc3 Bb4 Black can reach the Nimzo-Indian without ever allowing the pure 3.Nc3 Bb4 Nimzo line, because White’s third move was Nf3 instead of Nc3.
- Engines rate the position at approximate equality, but with a rich imbalance of ideas that make it attractive in practical play.
Why Study 3.Nf3 e6?
For players who like the Mexican Defence but prefer to avoid the immediate tactical melee of the …e5 lines, 3…e6 offers:
- A sound, strategically flexible framework
- The chance to transpose into reliable Indian structures they may already know
- Ample opportunity to out-prepare opponents on rarely studied sub-variations
Fun Fact
In online blitz, 3…e6 is the most common response by engines when set to “play for practicality” mode, reflecting its reputation as the safest – yet still unbalancing – route within the Mexican Defence complex.