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Newcomers to the Tango will often think it is silly and try to refute it. I don’t think that can be done. The most aggressive try, 4.d5, doesn’t look too dangerous. I had never faced it until a few months ago. Ironically, my opponent knew something about this opening.  He claimed to be following Orlov analysis judged to be superior for White. I don’t know if he was confused or remembering correctly, but I like what I got.

Rusty Potter-Joel Benjamin (2589) [A50]

World Open, 2003

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.d5 Ne5 4.e4 e6 5.f4 Ng6

It looks like a mirror image of an Alekhine four pawns attack! While Black has to be careful not to be squashed by onrushing pawns, I think White is a step too slow in development to make these advances work.

6.e5 Ne4 7.Qf3 Bb4+ 8.Kd1

The only attempt to exploit Black’s wayward knight, but what a juicy target in the center!

8…f5 9.Bd3 0-0 10.Bxe4 fxe4 11.Qxe4 d6 12.Nf3 Ba5!

Black has a huge lead in development, but when he starts exchanging pawns in the center the bishop on b4 will hang. It may look more natural to play 12...Qe7, but after 13.a3 Ba5 14.b4 Bb6 15.Nc3 White can support his center.

A JUICY TARGET ON d1

13.Nc3 dxe5 14.fxe5 exd5 15.cxd5

If 15.Qxd5+ Be6, Black regains the pawn and maintains his initiative.

15...Bf5 16.Qd4 c5

A second pawn is a small investment to open more lines and gain time.

17.Qxc5 Rc8 18.Qd4

I couldn’t find a direct continuation, but I detected that White is weak on the light squares.

 18...Bxc3 19.bxc3 Qa5 20.Bd2 Qb5 21.d6 Rc4

DEATH ON THE WHITE SQUARES

It is interesting how the Black heavy pieces infiltrate behind the White pawns. Only then do they start to fall.

22.Qxa7 Nxe5 23.Nxe5 Qxe5

White still has two extra pawns, but because he cannot challenge Black’s White square control, his king is ultimately doomed.

24.Qa3 Qd5 25.Re1 Rfc8 26.Kc1 h6!

FIRST LUFT, THEN DISMEMBERMENT

Okay, admittedly 26...b5 is stronger. Not being a machine, I wanted to tidy up my king position before looking for a decisive continuation. There’s nothing like a little quiet move to show your opponent just how depressing his position has become.

 27.Re7 Qd3 28.Qb3 Kh7 29.Rc7 R8xc7 30.dxc7 Rxc7 31.a4 Bg6

Black needs only to penetrate with the rook, and there are probably many ways to do it. I was just very careful to check if White had any threats to free himself.

32.Ra2

32.Be1 Re7 33.Bg3 Re2 34.Ra2 Rxa2 35.Qxa2 Qxc3+ 36.Kd1 Bh5+ ends the game.

32...Rf7 33.Rc2 Rf1+ 34.Kb2 Rf2 35.Kc1 Rxg2 36.h4 Rh2 37.a5 h5

Total zugswang. That really feels good.

38.Qa4 Rxd2 39.Kb2 Rxc2+ 40.Qxc2 Qxc2+, 0-1.

Didn’t I start a number list a million years ago?  I guess I should get back to that. The other thing that I learned:

2) Masters on up almost always play 3.Nf3. This doesn’t shut down the Tango, but it forces Black into more conventional channels. You will need to learn a few lines in the Nimzo-Indian and Bogo-Indian. Sorry, nothing I can do about that, other than to guide you along. Just like every good movie has a sequel (or at least every profitable movie), so too does this column. Read all about 3.Nf3 in next month’s Tango Part Deux.

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