Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nc6

Mikenas Defense
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

r1bqkbnr/pppppppp/2n5/8/3P4/8/PPP1PPPP/RNBQKBNR w

Moves: 1.d4 Nc6
ECO code: A40
Parent: Queens Pawn Opening
Synonym(s): Lundin (Kevitz-Mikenas) Defence

Queen's Knight Defense


A40 Mikenas Defense

1...Nc6

The Mikenas Defence (also Queen's Knight Defence, Lundin Defence, Kevitz-Mikenas Defence) is characterized by 1. d4 Nc6 and is rarely played. It prepares a possible e5 for Black. However the Black Knight is often exposed to White playing d5 at some stage or Black loses a tempo to pawns moving to occupy the center. On the plus side Black's pawn structure remain flexible.

White has a number of choices.

  • 2. e4 A common reply and transposes into a Nimzowitsch Defence.
  • 2. Nf3 this prevents Black's immediate e5.
  • 2. c4 exerting extra pressure on the d5 square.
  • 2. d5 Moving the pawn again and directly challenging the Knight.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1.d4 Nc6

2 3 4
Nimzowitsch Defence
by transposition		 e4 See 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4
Chigorin Defence
by transposition		 Nf3
d5		 c4
Bg4		 cxd5
Bxf3		 +=
Montevideo Defensed5Nb8!?
Mikenas Defense: Full Metal Jacket Variation d5
Ne5		 e4
e6		 f4
exd5!?		 =
Mikenas Defense: Lithuanian Variation c4
e5		 d5
Nce7		 =

References

  • Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.
  • Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. 1999. Nick de Firmian, Walter Korn. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3.


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Chess openings quick reference
1. e4
1...e5 · Open
2. Nf3
With 2...Nc6:
Four knights: (
)
Italian game: (
)
Spanish game: (
)

With other 2nd moves:
2. Other

1...c5 · Sicilian
2. Nf3 · Open Sicilian
With 2...Nc6:

With 2...d6:

With 2...e6:

With other 2nd moves:
Anti-Sicilians
1... other
Caro-Kann
French
Other


1. d4
1...d5 · Closed
2. c4
2. Nc3
2. other
1...Nf6 · Indian
2. c4
With 2...e6:

With 2...g6:

With other 2nd moves for Black:
2. Nf3
2. other
1... other
Flank
Unorthodox
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