Mikenas Attack - aggressive English opening
Mikenas Attack
Definition
The Mikenas Attack is an aggressive system for White that arises most often from the English Opening after the moves 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4. By immediately thrusting the e-pawn two squares, White seizes central space, threatens to advance e4–e5, and invites Black to decide whether to steer the game into Benoni, Queen’s Indian, or Reversed Sicilian-type structures. The line is named after Lithuanian grandmaster Vladas Mikėnas (1910-1992), who pioneered it in the 1930s.
Typical Move Order & Ideas
The characteristic position arises after:
- c4 Nf6
- Nc3 e6
- e4 (the defining move)
Other transpositions are possible, e.g. 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e4, but the above three-move sequence is the purest form.
- Central control: e4 supports d4 and restricts …d5.
- Flexible pawn structure: White may follow with d4, f4, or Nf3.
- Psychological weapon: the sudden “open-game” character can unsettle players expecting a quiet English.
Strategic Themes
• Space advantage: After 3…d5 4.e5 White gains space and a clamp
on the dark squares.
• Benoni set-ups: If Black replies 3…c5, play can transpose to a
Benoni where White is a tempo up.
• Reversed Sicilian: Lines with …c5/…Nc6 may resemble a
Sicilian Dragon played with colors reversed, again granting White
an extra tempo.
• Piece activity: The early e4 frees the c1-bishop for g2 or d3
and gives the knight on g1 an attractive route to f3 or e2.
Main Black Replies
- 3…d5 – The most principled. After 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3, the position becomes imbalanced; White has pawn weaknesses but dynamic piece play.
- 3…c5 – Heading for a Benoni-type structure. White can play 4.e5 Ng8 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 with pleasant development.
- 3…Bb4 – Trying Nimzo-Indian ideas. White may continue 4.e5 Ng8 5.Qg4, a sharp line once popularised by Tal.
- 3…Nc6 – A flexible move that often transposes into a Reversed Open Sicilian after 4.Nf3 d5.
Historical Significance
Vladas Mikėnas introduced the idea in international play during the mid-1930s. His spectacular victory over Salo Flohr in Kemeri 1937 showcased the system’s attacking potential and gave the line its name. Later, grandmasters such as Aleksander Wojtkiewicz, Jon Speelman, and Alexander Grischuk adopted the Mikenas Attack to avoid the Nimzo-Indian Defence">Nimzo-Indian and force less-charted territory.
Illustrative Game
Mikėnas – Flohr, Kemeri 1937
[[Pgn|1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 Qxf6 7.d4
c5 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.Bg5 Qf5 10.Bd3 Qg4 11.O-O cxd4 12.cxd4 Bd6 13.d5 exd5
14.Re1+ Kd7 15.h3 Qh5 16.Bf5+ Kc7 17.Qxd5 h6 18.g4 Qxh3 19.Qxd6+ Kxd6
20.Bf4+ Kc5 21.Rab1 a6 22.Rec1#|fen|8/4p1p1/1pn5/p1k1P3/2P1B1BP/5N2/PP3PP1/1R1R2K1 b - - 0 22]]
The game ends with a picturesque rook lift and mate, immortalising the variation’s attacking pedigree.
Modern Practice
While not a mainline weapon at elite level, the Mikenas Attack remains a potent sideline surprise in rapid and blitz. Current top grandmasters who have experimented with it include Hikaru Nakamura and Richard Rapport. According to the 2023 Mega-database, White scores a healthy 55% from over 3,000 recorded games.
Interesting Facts
- The early e-pawn thrust can transpose to a King’s Gambit one move down if Black replies …f5, a curiosity noted by analyst Jonathan Speelman.
- Because the move order sidesteps …Bb4+, many Nimzo-Indian specialists find themselves playing unfamiliar structures on move 3.
- Stockfish evaluates the main line after 3…d5 4.e5 at roughly 0.00 in depth-30 searches, confirming the variation’s soundness despite its gambit-like feel.
- In correspondence chess, the critical line 3…Bb4 4.e5 Ng8 5.Qg4 has been analyzed beyond move 30, yet no clear refutation of White’s setup has emerged.
When to Use the Mikenas Attack
Choose this system if you:
- Prefer open, tactical play over the positional manoeuvring typical of many English lines.
- Wish to avoid well-trodden Queen’s Indian and Nimzo-Indian theory.
- Enjoy seizing the initiative and dictating early pawn-structure decisions to your opponent.
Conclusion
The Mikenas Attack is a robust, energetic weapon that combines surprise value with strategic depth. Whether you are a club player looking for an offbeat alternative or an advanced competitor seeking to unsettle a well-prepared foe, 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 offers an exciting avenue to fight for the initiative from the very start.