Mikenas Defense

The knight steps out before White has shown a plan

Offbeat

Black develops the knight to c6 at once and prepares …e5. The move is direct but committal: the knight blocks the c-pawn, and Black does not yet know which set-up White will choose. That is why the defence is rarely seen in serious games. Most often it simply transposes: 2.e4 leads to the Nimzowitsch Defence, 2.Nf3 d5 to a Queen's Pawn Game, 2.c4 d5 to the Chigorin Defence. The sharpest answer is 2.d5.

Interactive Opening Board

5.Nf3

♚

Black

♔

White

5.Nf3

Speed:

Moves

(9 plies • 5 moves)

5.Nf3Tabiya

1–5moves
#WhiteBlack
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Defining move

1…Nc6 — knight first, c-pawn shut in

The move that sets it apart from the usual 1…Nf6 and 1…d5

Black threatens …e5 and eyes e5 and d4. But the knight on c6 blocks the c-pawn and shows White Black's hand early. White can calmly reply 2.Nf3, or chase the knight at once with 2.d5.

Tabiya

After 2.d5: White has space, Black has lost time

The knight has hopped to e5 and White builds a big centre: e4 and f4 drive it on to g6. The structure resembles an Alekhine's Defence, but on the other wing. White has space and tempo; Black has a target to aim at: the stretched centre. Black wants to undermine it with …e6 or …c6 and bring the other knight to f6.

White’s plan

Chase the knight with d4-d5 and build the centre with e4 and f4.
Develop without haste and keep the centre under control.
If Black has chosen the quiet path, steer into a Chigorin or a Nimzowitsch Defence.

Black’s plan

Bring the other knight to f6 and undermine the centre with …e6 or …c6.
Keep White's space edge from growing while the knight loses time.
Against a quiet 2.Nf3, play …d5 and reach a familiar structure.

Legends who played it

V
Vladas Mikėnas
as Black · Named after the player

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